WALTER BEEBE Obituary
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Robert and Nena Thurman
July 11, 2025
I remember how Walter and I love each other's presence and families, ever sharing the aim for Open Center to be home for education of full-hearted, altruistic, open-minded, enlightened people, never to give up-death just a door to new form of deathless effort!
Richard Hershenson
April 5, 2025
I offer my belated condolences to Walter's wife and family.
Though I don't know if I ever knew Walter or met him, what he did in founding the Open Center and guiding it through the years was a remarkable achievement and a gift and blessing for myself and thousands of others in the New York City area and elsewhere.
I somehow discovered the Open Center decades ago when I was searching for spirituality and community and connection with other people in this large city of so many people with whom I was not able to connect personally. I found at the Open Center a large number of classes and workshops which included ways for me to find activities which brought me into worlds of connecting with other people and other interests and interests I already shared and staff that were welcoming to me as well as a place that I could feel at home.
One particular workshop that stands out for me that was most memorable and significantly important for me and changed my life in a profound way was a workshop for men led by Sam Keene.
It was Sam Keene who died very recently and his obituary was in the New York Times today. He was a leader in the Men's Movement in the 1990s along with Robert Bly who wrote the classic book of the Men's Movement, Iron John. Sam Keen's book was called Fire in the Belly. That book was a best seller on the New York Times list and was a gem that I read.
Sam's workshop at the Open Center was a wonderful workshop attended by many men who like me were in their 20s or 30s. At the workshop Sam encouraged us to form men's groups so we could carry on the work that he was describing and we would have a way to carry on work together in fellowship. Almost to my amazement a bunch of us signed a sheet after the meeting and agreed to start a men's group. I lived on the east side and three of the other men who signed up lived in Inwood. We soon gathered at one of the guys' apartments in Inwood where I had never been before and before I knew it we continued together every couple of weeks and we continued and kept going for years to our great fortune and eventually added a couple of other guys and it benefited all our lives to a tremendous degree. And that was to a large degree all thanks to you, Walter.
So it is to you, Walter, I offer forever my gratitude and thanks for all the good that you have done for so many of us lucky people whose lives you have touched knowingly and unknowingly.
Your friend,
Rich
Tom Miller
August 23, 2024
My apologies for the delay but I do want the family to know how much Walter helped me with the establishment of the International Law Society at Stanford Law School which flowered for decades educating generations of law students in the principles (and failings) of public international law. Attached is a photo of the founding members including Walter. Sitting between Walter and myself is Rob Sangster, co-founder of the Society.
I very much regret not keeping in contact with Walter as both our lives have focused on public service and I believe we were the only '65 law school graduates to head back East and, with me at Rockefeller Center, only blocks apart before I left in search of fresh vegetables in California in 1973.
Sky Otter ( Bill Pfeiffer)
July 11, 2024
Walter helped me in many ways that he may have not been aware of. Mentoring, warmth, support, and intelligent advice. I also always appreciated his vision with the Open Center and beyond.What a good man! I miss him. Sky formerly Bill from Vermont.
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George Vásquez
December 14, 2023
Walter was a close and dear friend for over sixty years. We met during our sophomore year at Harvard in 1959-60, when Walter and I and our respective roommates entered what was then the brand new Quincy House. We played an inordinate amount of tennis doubles with Walter´s friend Randy Borland and my friend Jeffrey Short. I arranged Walter´s bachelor party for his first marriage in New York City, where three of us, Walter, Jack Kroll and myself, ended up closing Jack Ryan´s (at the time a prominent jazz club in mid-town Manhattan), having spent a good part of the evening listening to Jackie Teagarden and his band. I also married Walter´s first wife´s, Robin´s, Radcliffe roommate, Penny. Because Walter, at the time, did not type, I typed his honors´ senior thesis. Walter´s nickname at Harvard - "the Golden" - remained a living feature at least for his college friends forever! We kept in touch over the years, especially when I returned from living overseas and moved to California. Walter, our mutual friend, John Warden (my college roommate), and I would meet yearly for supper - usually at the Knickerbocker Club, as John´s guests. Last year, the year of Walter´s tragic death, I called Walter to see if he was coming to our 60th college reunion. He said that he couldn´t make it but would love to have supper in Manhattan afterwards. A photo of our last encounter appears below. Walter was in admirable form, so much so, that he ordered a bottle of the most expensive French wine on the menu! I miss my friend. I miss his sense of humor and laughter. I miss his dedication to doing good for others. "The Golden" will always remain a vivid image and person in my memory.
Walter, John, and George
(New York City, June 2022)
Sent by George Vásquez on Dec. 14, 2023
Kelly Vogel, former student at the Open Center
November 9, 2022
I am so saddened to learn of Walter's passing! I took a certificate course at the Open Center from 2021-2022 and it has changed my life! I am forever grateful to his grand contributions to the world. Sending condolences and love to his family and spirited community.
Anne Hemenway
August 3, 2022
Sending condolences to all who loved Walter. With great appreciation for Walter's great warmth and generousity and for The NY Open Center. Fare thee well to Walter Beebe !
George Vásquez
July 25, 2022
Walter and I became friends during our sophomore year in college. In fact, Walter introduced me to my first wife, Penny. We remained in touch through the years although I lived abroad and then in California. Fortuitously, we had supper together with a mutual friend, John Warden, a few weeks before Walter's death. I will always cherish his friendship and optimistic spirit. My deepest condolences to Carol and all his children and grandchildren as well as to his brother, whom, unfortunately, I never had the pleasure of meeting. Rest in peace, caro amico.
Konstantin Klein
July 25, 2022
Rest in Peace, Walter, and my sincerest condolences to all around you!
Fred & Phyllis Macisaac O'Keefe
July 23, 2022
Our deepest sympathy on your loss. Our thoughts and orders are with you at this time.
Mark and Michelle Walker
July 23, 2022
Our deepest sympathies to all who loved and were inspired by Walter. May he Rest In Peace.
The families of Larry, LaVon and Kay (Mattson)McDaniel
July 22, 2022
Walter, being part of the McDaniel family, will be greatly missed for his kindness, his knowledge and his ability to share his unique God-given thoughts and prayers with all of us. When we meet Walter again in his now, heavenly home, we will have to be content to share all of our precious memories with each other here until we experience that great reunion .
We send our condolences to our sister Carol and family.
In Christian Love...
Bob Thurman
July 22, 2022
Dear Walter and Carol,
Walter I'm sure you have already arrived in an Open Center in the sky, namely a heavenly zone where not only pleasure and joy and all that, but active beneficial activity to many beings is ever possible, which you have always known is the greatest joy! Your blessings flow toward Carol and your hosts of progeny and friends and they are felt! My message to you is I do not abandon our dream of making Open Center pluralistic spiritual inspiration and education core available ongoing!
Nena and Robert Thurman
July 21, 2022
We love and miss Walter, though we don't doubt he goes on to ven more vast and fascinating lives in joyful loving delight in and service to living beings!
Geoffrey D Batrouney
July 18, 2022
Our very sincere condolences to his family and extended NYOC family.
Frank Burgel
July 18, 2022
Walter - I will miss you ! Thank you for all you have done to make this world a better place.
Ellen Goldberg
July 17, 2022
In honor of a consummate New Yorker who led a meaningful life. Keeping his family in my thoughts. EG
Laurence Kaye
July 17, 2022
I met Walter as a fellow member of the International Board of The Abraham Initiatives. A man of great insight, principle and compassion who undoubtedly will be sorely missed but who leaves a wonderful legacy. My deepest condolences to the family. Sincerely, Laurence Kaye, Founder, Abraham Initiatives UK.
Gail Andrews Whelan
July 17, 2022
Walter led an enviable life of success, compassion and satisfaction. I remember sitting next to him, who was
brilliant, tempered with a wry sense of humor, in algebra
class in ninth grade; he was my date for the senior graduation
party, as well. Well done, Walter! And condolences to Carol
and his children.
France Morin
July 17, 2022
My deepest condolences.
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