Jack Beattie

1934 - 2016

Beattie, Jack of Winter Park passed away peacefully Sunday April 3, 2016. He was born October 2, 1934 in Bay City, Michigan and raised there. He earned his undergraduate degree at Michigan State University, his dental degree at University of Michigan and his Masters Degree in Orthodontics from Western Reserve in Cleveland. On June 27, 1959 he married Ernestine Johnson and they remained married until his death. In 1963, the family moved to Orlando. In 1965 they bought a home in Winter Park-and they have resided in that same home ever since. Dr. Jack Beattie was well known for the passion that he brought to his many activities over all his years. His passion for his career in orthodontics was marked by a legacy of service to his profession. Among his many elected and appointed positions, he served for many years as a Delegate to the American Dental Association and as a Delegate and Council Chairman for the American Association of Orthodontists. He received accolades and service awards from those organizations as well as from the Florida Association of Orthodontists and the Southern Association of Orthodontists. He was also the recipient of the prestigious Milo Hellman Award from the American Association of Orthodontists for original scientific research in orthodontics. He was passionate about politics having served in the 1970s as Chairman of the Orange County Republican Executive Committee and as a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1968 and 1972. He is widely recognized for the passion that he brought to the pool as a competitive swimmer. He was a Michigan High School State Champion and All-American Swimmer at Bay City Central High School and a Collegiate All-American Swimmer at Michigan State. Swimming as an adult in "Masters Swimming" he set five world records, eleven national records, won eighty-eight National Championship races, had 257 Top Ten Nationally Ranked swims and seventeen #1 ranked swims. At sixty-six years of age, he was part of a record setting relay swim across the English Channel. In 2012 he received the Jack Breslin Lifetime Achievement Award from Michigan State University. He was appreciated by his friends and his family for his intellect and his insights and particularly for his wit and his sense of humor. He seemed to remember almost every joke ever told and more than that, he knew just how to tell each joke "right." In any crowd, he would be found telling stories, telling jokes or with another of his primary passions, singing songs. Many nights over the years, he could be found in a downtown Winter Park bar with a microphone in his hand joining an old friend for a song or two. Still today we enjoy his renditions of the classics on his CD, "Black Tie Optional". He is survived by Ernestine, his wife of 56 years, son Dr. John R. Beattie, Winter Park, who followed him into orthodontics and practiced with him for many years, son Dr. Jeffrey L. Beattie, Winter Park, an oral surgeon (spouse Tracy Beattie), and daughter Kimberly Beattie Nordheim, Boca Raton, an attorney (spouse Gregory Nordheim) and six grandchildren, Nick, Jake, Caroline, John, Gregory, and Jacqueline. To learn more of Dr. Jack Beattie please see www.drjackbeattie.com. A memorial service will be held at the Winter Park Presbyterian Church at 11:00 AM Friday April 22, 2016. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Dental Society of Greater Orlando Charitable Foundation.