Samuel Breck

Samuel Beaudoux ("Beau") Breck Passed away peacefully with his family by his side on September 27 in Carmel, California after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on June 3, 1932 in Oakland, California to Samuel Earl Breck and Anita Beaudoux Breck. He was pre-deceased by his sister Beverly Breck Bryant. Beau was raised in Oakland and Piedmont, California. He attended Piedmont High School where he was President of his Senior Class, and where he first met and dated his future wife of 57 years, Helen Bragg. In 1950 he enrolled in the University of California at Berkeley where he majored in Political Science, and developed an abiding interest in American history and politics. Beau was the Captain and "Stroke" of the Varsity Crew, a member of Zeta Psi Fraternity and the President of Skull and Keys. He developed many lifelong friendships at Cal and remained an active alum, serving at one point as President of the Big C Society. After graduating from Cal in 1954, Beau and Helen were married and moved to Germany, where Beau served for two years as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps. Following his service, he returned to live in Piedmont and began his professional career in San Francisco as a stockbroker. In the late 1960's, he left the brokerage business for a career as a trusted and respected Investment Manager, retiring in 2006 from the firm, Stein Roe Investment Counsel. While living in the Bay Area, he was a longstanding member of the Pacific-Union Club and the Claremont Country Club, where he sang in the Men's Chorus for nearly three decades. In 2003, Beau moved full time to Carmel, California. He loved the Monterey Peninsula and greatly enjoyed the many friendships he developed at the Old Capital Club and at the Church of the Forest, where he was Treasurer for several years. Beau had a wide circle of friends of all ages and was known for his character, integrity, and kindness. He was a raconteur with a quick sense of humor and a hearty laugh. He had an irrepressible enthusiasm, a positive attitude toward life, and a genuine interest in others. All who knew him felt his sincerity and warmth. He was passionate about nature and the outdoors and spent summers hiking in the Sierra near his beloved cabin at Silver Lake and also in the mountains of Europe with friends. He was an avid snow skier and fly fisherman, and enjoyed dominoes and poetry. Beau was a devoted and loving husband, father, and an especially attentive grandfather. He will be greatly missed by his wife Helen; son, Peter and daughter-in-law Toni of Ross; daughter, Amy and son-in-law Kirby Wilcox of Piedmont; son, Ted and daughter-in-law Kristen of Kentfield; and by his grandchildren Hunter, Beau, Claire, Molly, Katelin, Sophie and Teddy. Beau is survived also by his treasured in-laws; Mary and John Ricksen of Walnut Creek; Patty and Grove Bryant of Orinda; many Ricksen and Bryant nieces and nephews; and his cousins Wendy and Henry Breck of New York. A celebration of Beau's life will be held on Monday, October 24th at 2:30 pm at the Church of the Forest in Pebble Beach, with a reception to follow. The family would like to acknowledge the kindness and professionalism of Dr. Jerome Rubin and the Medical Staff at Monterey Bay Oncology, the Oncology Staff of The Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP), and Katie Bagley of Hospice. Gifts in honor of Beau can be made either to the Community Hospital Foundation c/o Comprehensive Cancer Center, P.O. Box HH Monterey, CA 93940; or to the University of California Crew c/o Bear Backers, 195 Haas Pavilion, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; or to a charity of your choice.