John Beebe

John Howard ("Jack") Beebe

1942 – 2014

John Howard Beebe (widely known as JACK BEEBE), 72, died at his home in Portola Valley, California on November 25, 2014, concluding an 11-month fight against an extremely aggressive cancer. Jack was born on May 11, 1942 to Howard Ward Beebe and Margaret Pardee Beebe, both of whom predeceased him. Jack lived in New Jersey and Massachusetts until 1950, when he and his family moved to Houston. There he graduated from St. John's School, and he then attended Williams College and earned his B.A. in Economics. Next he went to the University of Texas in Austin and received his M.S. in Industrial Engineering. Then he taught at California Polytechnic State University for about three years. He followed this by studying at Stanford University and earning a Ph.D. in Economics and teaching there for several more years. About 1977 he took employment at the San Francisco Branch of the Federal Reserve, where he rose to become the Director of Research, and he served at the "Fed" until his retirement in 2002.
Jack was married to Patricia Pfeiffer from 1968 until their divorce in 1991, but they remained very close friends thereafter. She cared for him lovingly in his final illness, and she survives him. Jack is also survived by his three siblings: Ward F. Beebe (and wife Barbara), of Lakeway, Texas, Roger L. Beebe (and wife Eleanor), of Houston, Texas, and Carol Ann Beebe Walser, of Waxhaw, North Carolina. Other survivors are his five nieces and nephews, Jennifer Marie Buschhorn, David W. Beebe, Mark R. Beebe, Paul M. Beebe, and Wendi Walser Zerbo, plus six grandnieces and grandnephews, many cousins, and many friends.
Jack was known and respected as a very honest and ethical person in all that he did. He was a great traveler, outdoorsman, and hiker, sometimes going alone into unfamiliar and dangerous places. He supported wilderness organizations, including the Peninsula Open Space Trust and the Sierra Club. He was an ardent and supportive alumnus of Williams College.
A memorial service for Jack will be held in Houston at a time and place to be announced later.