DIED
2025
Ronald Beck Obituary
Ron pursued his medical education at the University of Illinois before embarking on a distinguished career in ophthalmology. He was a longtime partner at Valley Eye Clinic in Puyallup, Washington.
An avid traveler and mountaineer, Ron had a deep love for Nepal and completed numerous treks through the Himalayas with family and friends. His adventures included the Annapurna Circuit in 1980, Kanchenjunga, the Mustang Valley, and the Everest region. He summited Denali in 1969 with a group of climbers from Tacoma and hiked the entire Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. Among his many climbs in the Cascades were multiple ascents of Mount Rainier. His daring pursuits led to several close calls, including surviving cerebral edema on Popocatépetl and a harrowing encounter with a crevasse on Rainier's Paradise Glacier. He was also a dedicated runner who completed several marathons.
Ron served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force, spending several years stationed in Adana, Turkey. During this time, he developed a fascination with archaeology and explored ruins across Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria. His passion for art and design was reflected in his home, which featured collections of Tibetan and Nepali art from his travels. He also took great pride in cultivating a beautiful garden at his residence.
At home, Ron entertained his children with imaginative tales of mythical creatures who lived in the woods around their house. His irreverent sense of humor and gift for storytelling made him a beloved presence among family and friends.
Ron's love for music and the arts was reflected in his philanthropy as a generous supporter of Seattle Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and the Seattle Symphony.
He is survived by Ruth, his wife of more than sixty years; his son, Philip; and his daughter, Heidi. His memory will live on in the landscapes he cherished, the stories he told, and the lives he touched.
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5 Entries
Andrew Fallat
August 30, 2025
Memories of Ron and your family are precious to me. I felt your openness in Puyallup as a warm embrace. I now live in Port Townsend and always think of you on Lopez Island when I look north across the Straits. My heart is with you.
Barbara Brill
March 28, 2025
I have know Ron for around 45 years. He was my boss at VEC and a friend that I treasured. Thanks to Ron and Ruth we, my husband and I, were given the opportunity to attend plays, the opera, the Seattle Symphony and more. Ron and Ruth welcomed us into their homes over the years to enjoy their friendship, laughter and love. Ron had a wonderful sense of humor and could keep you thinking and laughing. Thank you for helping me through my working days and the loss of my husband. Ruth will continue her journey with the help of her family and friends. I will forever think of Ron, Ruth, Heidi and Philip. My love to you. B
Phyllis Griggs
March 22, 2025
Ron,
It has been an honor and great pleasure to be your neighbor for almost 30 years down here on the Creek . I have gotten to enjoy your garden from my kitchen window . Even in the end you were kind , warm and loving with that great smile of yours . We will miss you.
Phyllis Griggs
Karen Jettmar
March 15, 2025
I met Ron Beck and his family the summer of my 21st year, when I had the enviable job of working as a summer seasonal employee at Mt. Rainier National Park. Over that summer, I visited the Beck's secluded cabin in the forest adjacent to the park, and visited their Lakewood home many times. They became my West Coast family, and over the years, even after I moved to Alaska, adventures with Ron and family became a part of my life. Ron was a talented eye surgeon with admirable patient rapport, and he arranged his life and investments to begin The Great Lavec (Life after Valley Eye Clinic) when he was just 50 years old. I was privileged to be a part of that life, and was on Lopez Island with Ron and Ruth when they made a decision to purchase the land we visited. I enjoyed many hikes and runs with Ron, including a one day hike of 26 miles of Mt. Rainier's Wonderland Trail. When my own mother passed away prematurely, and I was adrift with long-term grief, Ron drove us to Big Sky, and our conversations helped me immensely in processing her departure. Perhaps the most intelligent man I've ever known, Ron facilitated my own expansion of knowledge during our time together, and I appreciated his incredible sense of dry humor. We shared many values and I loved that there was never a TV in the home; an evening often consisted of everyone sitting around reading, while classical music played in the background. Having dreamed of trekking in Nepal while I was in college, Ron and Ruth had close connections to the country and inspired my own trips there. As one of the early Northwest climbers on Mt. Rainier, St. Helen's, Denali and other peaks, Ron's achievements inspired me in my climbing efforts. During the fledgling first year of my wilderness adventure business in Alaska, Ron came on my first guided trip down the Tatshenshini-Alsek River and we shared the beauty of that great glacial river with the mountains soaring above us. It was a seminal moment in my business, and a privilege to share it with him.
Ron was a generous, philanthropic person who, like myself, loved wilderness and wild country. His donations for land protection exemplify his dedication to open, untrammeled country. He also loved art, music and books and made substantial donations toward their enduring importance in the world.
Ron chose to live fully each day, and for many years he continued walking in the forest and by the sea. He fought so hard for so many years.
While Ron's health diminished in recent years, each time I visited him, he rose to the occasion 100%, engaging in thoughtful, meaningful conversations. I love and cherish my friendship with Ron; it was an honor to know and love him. Rest in peace, dear man.
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Ron Bussinger
March 9, 2025
I have a lot of happy memories of climbing lots of mountains and lots of hikes with Ron. I was with him when he went into a crevasse on Mount Rainier and with Phillip got him out. We had lots of skiing in Montana over the years. We trekked in Nepal with his family.
We spent a week in the Eagle Cap wilderness in Idaho skiing and staying in a yurt.
The picture is of a climb on Mount Saint Helens long before it blew up.
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