Dr. Charles Fremont Beck

1922 - 2012

Beck, Dr. Charles Fremont

Dr. Charles F. Beck passed away on July 4, 2012 in West Palm Beach, Florida at the hospice of the Good Samaritan Medical Center. Born in Hornel, New York on October 4, 1922 to Anne Steinbrenner and Leslie Beck, he grew up in Yonkers, New York with two brothers, John and Robert. Charles attended Yonkers High School where he flourished as an athlete and as a musician. His father, Les, was a teacher and basketball coach for Yonkers High School. Beck attended Syracuse University on a basketball scholarship where he enrolled in a pre-dentistry program. However, after three years he joined the military and was assigned to the University of Maryland dental school to pursue dentistry. While in Maryland, Charles played professional basketball for the Baltimore Bullets. During the Korean War, he joined the Air Force and was stationed at Elemendorf Air Force base in Alaska. After completing his service, he continued on to the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill and specialized in pediatric dentistry. Dr. Beck went on to practice dentistry in Tarrytown, New York for over 30 years. Beck married Mary Barrett St. Cyr in 1945, and they had seven children together. In Tarrytown, he was elected the president of the school board and held that position for years. An avid tennis player, he was a regionally ranked doubles player, and a father-son champion with his son, John. In 1977, he began to travel the world as a professional tennis official, and he was the first American umpire to sit in the chair for each and every Grand Slam tournament. In 1985, he was honored and received The John T. McGovern Umpires' Award. After retiring from officiating, Beck wrote a book titled, "A View From the Tall Chair," which chronicled his career spent umpiring during an era of legendary tennis greats, of which include: McEnroe, Connors, Borg, Lendl, and Edburg. In 1987, Charles Beck married Sandra Stanley and the two lived in West Palm Beach. His passion for music and love of the trumpet led him to form The Palm Beach Concert Band in addition to the Serenade in Blue Big Band.

He is survived by four of his children, Charles Beck of Manhattan, NY, Bruce Beck of Wellington, FL, Ellen Beck Grad of Mamaroneck, NY, and Mary Beck Ramsey of Alpharetta, GA. Also survived by two step children, Stacy Kett of Port St. Lucie, FL, and Danney Stanley of Houston, TX; 18 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by two sons, John and James Beck; his daughter, Betsy Beck Patterson; first wife, Mary Beck; and his brother, John Beck.

A memorial service will be held December 2, 2012 in West Palm Beach.