Search by Name

Search by Name

DAVID BECK Obituary

BECK--David L.

We mourn the loss of an extraordinary artist and friend on October 23, to lung cancer. David lived in Manhattan after his graduation from Carnegie Mellon University (1976), but spent the last 30-some years in San Francisco. His earlier work tended towards boxes whose interiors contained puns, surreal scenarios and characters animated by handmade pullies and crankshafts. Larger constructions included full-scale beasts whose bellies displayed vitrines of similarly curious mise-en-scene. Later work became increasingly large, architectural and intricate: "Movie Palace" and "MVSEVM" belong to the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, others are in private collections. The obsessive craftsmanship of Beck's work includes handcrafted moving parts, illuminations, hidden elements and working musical instruments. Recent pieces draw from (and add to) the natural world with the invention of insects, mammals, and aquatic creatures of organic beauty whose exposed and precisely-wrought mechanisms create a parallel work of aesthetic enchantment. The charmingly inelegant Dodo bird served David as a lifelong muse. David played saxophone and composed with the bassist, Bill Noertker, as The Melanchoholics. David was a unique personality: understated, charming, reserved, watchful and unendingly curious; erudite yet drawn towards the naive; he was a sly joke-teller with a bone-dry sense of humor, a bane to tele-marketers, an avid flea market shopper and an incredibly warm and caring friend. He leaves a girlfriend, Sidney Russell and her family, a birth family, a chosen family, and a brilliant constellation of devoted friends somehow lucky or deserving enough to have earned his friendship, feeling bereft of him already.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by New York Times on Oct. 28, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for DAVID BECK

Not sure what to say?





Elizabeth Brand

December 2, 2021

David was my best friend and buddy in Marion, IN in the 1950s until my family moved away when I was 5. He and I had birthday parties together since we were born 1 day apart. He was a rare jewel who liked to talk and we were inseparable. I saw him one other time while he attended IU in Bloomington. He drove over to Columbus, IN to see us. Many years later I discovered his immense talent. I was proud of his accomplishments and occasionally have checked up on him over the years. This time I was so sad to learn of his death. How lucky you were to share your life with such a sweet, sensitive, and thoughtful guy.

Dave w/my wife Annie in July 2016 at his basement studio

Scott Mason

January 26, 2019

January 25, 2019

I was, and we all were blessed to of known or come in contact w/David. I was somewhat close to him playing drums in an earlier jazz group. I am so saddened by his death. He was truly a genius in his own right. No question about that. What he was able to create, build, construct, animate, whatever, was truly a unique use/interpretation of what he wanted us to see. One of a kind. I will miss him, but know he enjoyed himself while with us. SRM

BRY

November 3, 2018

Sincere condolences to the family, May you lean every morning on the arm of God as you cope with the dear loss in your life - Isaiah 33:2

November 3, 2018

I am so sorry for your great loss. May the God who "binds up the brokenhearted" and "comforts all who mourn" (Isaiah 61:1, 2) sustain your family during this challenging time. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy.

Lorraine Shemesh & Jack Bashkow

November 2, 2018

David Beck was an exceptional sculptor and an irreplaceable friend. How lucky we were to know him.

Lorraine Shemesh & Jack Bashkow

November 2, 2018

David Beck was an exceptional sculptor and an irreplaceable friend. How lucky we were to know him. How he will be missed.

Lorraine Shemesh Jack Bashkow

November 2, 2018

David Beck was an exceptional sculptor and an irreplaceable friend. How lucky we were to know him. How he will be missed.

Melanie and John Parks

November 2, 2018

Our dear friend David, we will always miss you and carry your memory in our hearts.

AC

October 31, 2018

I am so sorry for your great loss. May the God who "binds up the brokenhearted" and "comforts all who mourn" (Isaiah 61:1,2) sustain your family during this challenging time. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy.

October 29, 2018

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.

October 28, 2018

Memories of David are too numerous to mention. I knew him for over 60 years. I treasure the few small pieces of his work that I've kept all these years.

Lorraine Shemesh

October 28, 2018

David Beck was an exceptional sculptor, an inventor with a brilliant mind, and an irreplaceable friend. How we will miss him and how lucky we were to know him.
Lorraine Shemesh & Jack Bashkow

Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results

Make a Donation
in DAVID BECK's name

Memorial Events
for DAVID BECK

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

How to support DAVID's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor DAVID BECK's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more