ROBERT P. BESHAR

BESHAR--Robert Peter, 86, died peacefully at home in Somers, New York on April 16. The son of Herbert and Ella Beshar, Bob grew up in New Rochelle with his two brothers and sister. During his senior year at Yale University, Bob was appointed Scholar of the House and graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. While at Yale Law School, Bob met the love of his life, Christine von Wedemeyer. Christine was attending Smith College on a Fulbright. Bob and Christine were married in Germany in 1953. Late last year, they celebrated their 60th anniversary together with their four children -- Cornelia (Rob Spring), Jacky (Scot Jones), Fritz (Peter Lehner) and Peter (Sarah Beshar) -- and their fourteen grandchildren. Bob enjoyed a distinguished career in private practice. He also served in a number of government positions: Assistant General Counsel of the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, law clerk for the Honorable Charles Breitel on the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director of the Bureau of International Commerce in Washington. After leaving the Commerce Department in 1972, Bob returned to New York to set up his own practice. Bob served as special counsel, then Corporate Secretary and, for almost thirty years, on the board of directors of National Semiconductor Corporation in Santa Clara, California. He was a member of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, the Foundation Board of Westchester Community College and the Planning Board of the Town of Somers. In 1993, Bob became President of his family's rug and antiques business, Beshar's, in New York City. Bob's interests were varied and intense. A love of decorative arts -- bronzes, china, jewelry, clocks. He liked to say: "the hand shapes the mind." Reading novels late into the night -- convinced there was more truth in fiction than in non-fiction. Telling a great story over dinner and challenging children, grandchildren and startled guests to "sing for their supper." Driving, and carefully polishing, his convertible Mercedes with the license plate "Besh" -- his nickname at New Rochelle High School. Playing backgammon and eating Armenian food -- dolma, olives, cheoreg and lahmajoon. Trapshooting at Gipsy Trail with friends -- usually top gun and always wearing his trademark Stetson. Most of all, though, Bob adored his wife, his children and his grandchildren: Huyette, Peter, Alexander, Melissa, Vanessa, Lizi, Maddie, Scout, Nadine, Eliza, Marina, Isabel, Henry and Sophie. A service will be held at St. Luke's Church in Somers, New York on Saturday, April 26 at 11:00am, followed by a reception at the Stone House. The family has asked that those interested in honoring Bob's legacy consider a donation to Westchester Community College Foundation Hartford Hall, 75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla, New York 10595.