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John Beard Obituary
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John Joseph Beard
March 19, 1950 - November 4, 2025
John Joseph Beard, 75, died peacefully in his sleep at home in Alexandria, VA on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 after a valiant 19 month struggle with cancer.
A sixth generation native Washingtonian, John was born in Washington, DC on March 19, 1950, son of John K. Beard, Jr. and Edith Twynham Beard. He was the third of eight siblings. John is survived by his devoted wife, Pam Nesmith Beard; his brothers, Robert (Mary Pat Bierle) of Yankton, South Dakota; Stephen (Jennifer) Beard of Jessup, MD; sisters, Catherine (Charles) Harman of Bowie, MD; Joanne (Richard) Moore of Pittsburgh, PA; and Mary Ellen (Robert) Andrews of Hyattsville, MD. He was predeseased by his older brothers, Thomas (Pamela) and James (Angela Auletta). John is also survived by his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Claudia and Jay Lawson of Waltham, MA.
Many beloved nieces and nephews also survive John.
John graduated from St. Anthony's High School in Washington, DC. He was a member of the famous class of 1968 who still get together regularly in the DC area. He fondly remembers being the manager of the legendary John Thompson's basketball team.
John attended Providence College, Providence, RI before graduating from The Catholic University of America in 1972.
After college, John worked at the U.S. Patent Office in Crystal City, VA
In 1978, he and his partner, Anthony Pappano opened Zio's Italian Restaurant in Gaithersburg, MD. You never tasted better pizza than Zio's pizza. John and Anthony successfully ran Zio's until 2009 when Anthony retired. John continued alone until 2014 when he retired.
John loved inviting Pam's preschool classes to Zio's every year. Each child was able to make their own individual pizzas and then sit down and feast on their pizzas before returning to Alexandria.
John and Pam loved to travel - especially exploring the National Parks in the West. The Grand Tetons, Grand Canyon and Glacier National Park were some of their favorites. They thoroughly enjoyed perhaps their greatest summer adventure during two trips down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. One memorable trip included John's brother Bobby and our nephew, Robbie.
Many fun times with the Beard family at large ALWAYS involved food, West Virginia State Parks, golf with the nephews and lots of laughter with our ever growing family.
In later years, John enjoyed cooking breakfast each month for the Men of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Pam would like to thank the many healthcare professionals who took care of John for the last 19 months. Special mention goes to the infusion nurses at the Invoa Schar Cancer Institute in Alexandria. Their love and care were the only silver lining to John's cancer journey. We were blessed by the care of Laura, Meg, Megan, Martha, Lauren, Noah, Kelly and Rebecca. May the kindness you showed reflect back to you a thousand fold.
John Joseph Beard was a quiet presence - generous and kind in all ways. Pam and John were devoted to each other and had the most incredible life together. They met on a blind date in 1986 and married in 1988. Pam hadn't believed in love at first sight until it happened to her.
In John's honor, be kind to your neighbor, cook and eat some great food, play some great music and enjoy being together with your family and friends.
Warren Zevon said it best -
Shadows are fallin' and I'm runnin' out of breath
Keep me in your heart for a while
If I leave you it doesn't mean I love you any less
Keep me in your heart for a while
When you get up in the mornin' and you see that crazy sun
Keep me in your heart for a while
There's a train leavin' nightly called "When All is Said and Done"
Keep me in your heart for a while
Keep me in your heart for a while
Keep me in your heart for a while
Sometimes when you're doin' simple things around the house
Maybe you'll think of me and smile
You know I'm tied to you like the buttons on your blouse
Keep me in your heart for a while
Hold me in your thoughts
Take me to your dreams
Touch me as I fall into view
When the winter comes
Keep the fires lit
And I will be right next to you
Engine driver's headed north up to Pleasant Stream
Keep me in your heart for a while
These wheels keep turnin' but they're runnin' out of steam
Keep me in your heart for a while
Keep me in your heart for a while
Keep me in your heart for a while
A celebration of John's life will be held on Saturday, November 22, at 3 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2701 Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria, VA. We ask that you wear colorful clothes if you attend. The service will be live streamed at https://wpc-alex.org/. There will be a reception to follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in John's memory to Westminster Weekday Preschool, 2701 Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria, VA.
March 19, 1950 - November 4, 2025
John Joseph Beard, 75, died peacefully in his sleep at home in Alexandria, VA on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 after a valiant 19 month struggle with cancer.
A sixth generation native Washingtonian, John was born in Washington, DC on March 19, 1950, son of John K. Beard, Jr. and Edith Twynham Beard. He was the third of eight siblings. John is survived by his devoted wife, Pam Nesmith Beard; his brothers, Robert (Mary Pat Bierle) of Yankton, South Dakota; Stephen (Jennifer) Beard of Jessup, MD; sisters, Catherine (Charles) Harman of Bowie, MD; Joanne (Richard) Moore of Pittsburgh, PA; and Mary Ellen (Robert) Andrews of Hyattsville, MD. He was predeseased by his older brothers, Thomas (Pamela) and James (Angela Auletta). John is also survived by his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Claudia and Jay Lawson of Waltham, MA.
Many beloved nieces and nephews also survive John.
John graduated from St. Anthony's High School in Washington, DC. He was a member of the famous class of 1968 who still get together regularly in the DC area. He fondly remembers being the manager of the legendary John Thompson's basketball team.
John attended Providence College, Providence, RI before graduating from The Catholic University of America in 1972.
After college, John worked at the U.S. Patent Office in Crystal City, VA
In 1978, he and his partner, Anthony Pappano opened Zio's Italian Restaurant in Gaithersburg, MD. You never tasted better pizza than Zio's pizza. John and Anthony successfully ran Zio's until 2009 when Anthony retired. John continued alone until 2014 when he retired.
John loved inviting Pam's preschool classes to Zio's every year. Each child was able to make their own individual pizzas and then sit down and feast on their pizzas before returning to Alexandria.
John and Pam loved to travel - especially exploring the National Parks in the West. The Grand Tetons, Grand Canyon and Glacier National Park were some of their favorites. They thoroughly enjoyed perhaps their greatest summer adventure during two trips down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. One memorable trip included John's brother Bobby and our nephew, Robbie.
Many fun times with the Beard family at large ALWAYS involved food, West Virginia State Parks, golf with the nephews and lots of laughter with our ever growing family.
In later years, John enjoyed cooking breakfast each month for the Men of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Pam would like to thank the many healthcare professionals who took care of John for the last 19 months. Special mention goes to the infusion nurses at the Invoa Schar Cancer Institute in Alexandria. Their love and care were the only silver lining to John's cancer journey. We were blessed by the care of Laura, Meg, Megan, Martha, Lauren, Noah, Kelly and Rebecca. May the kindness you showed reflect back to you a thousand fold.
John Joseph Beard was a quiet presence - generous and kind in all ways. Pam and John were devoted to each other and had the most incredible life together. They met on a blind date in 1986 and married in 1988. Pam hadn't believed in love at first sight until it happened to her.
In John's honor, be kind to your neighbor, cook and eat some great food, play some great music and enjoy being together with your family and friends.
Warren Zevon said it best -
Shadows are fallin' and I'm runnin' out of breath
Keep me in your heart for a while
If I leave you it doesn't mean I love you any less
Keep me in your heart for a while
When you get up in the mornin' and you see that crazy sun
Keep me in your heart for a while
There's a train leavin' nightly called "When All is Said and Done"
Keep me in your heart for a while
Keep me in your heart for a while
Keep me in your heart for a while
Sometimes when you're doin' simple things around the house
Maybe you'll think of me and smile
You know I'm tied to you like the buttons on your blouse
Keep me in your heart for a while
Hold me in your thoughts
Take me to your dreams
Touch me as I fall into view
When the winter comes
Keep the fires lit
And I will be right next to you
Engine driver's headed north up to Pleasant Stream
Keep me in your heart for a while
These wheels keep turnin' but they're runnin' out of steam
Keep me in your heart for a while
Keep me in your heart for a while
Keep me in your heart for a while
A celebration of John's life will be held on Saturday, November 22, at 3 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2701 Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria, VA. We ask that you wear colorful clothes if you attend. The service will be live streamed at https://wpc-alex.org/. There will be a reception to follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in John's memory to Westminster Weekday Preschool, 2701 Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria, VA.
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