Kenneth L. Beauchamp PhD

Kenneth L. Beauchamp PhD

Apr. 15, 1939 - May 15, 2018

Ken died at home on May 15, after a long, hard-fought battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He will be greatly missed by family and friends. Ken was a man with great integrity and dedication, a loving husband to Judy, an awesome father to Karen (Jim Jensen) and Geoffrey, proud grandfather of Nicholas, and a besotted owner of two Golden Retrievers (Ceili and Misty).

He was a teacher, mentor, friend, advocate, leader--a great listener and advisor. He could be counted on for an honest, straight-forward (some would say blunt) opinion. He told it like it was! Born in Madera, California to Harold and Evelyn Beauchamp, he was the older brother to Bob (Karen), Bonnie (Le Phan), and Joe. He spent his early years on his family's small dairy farm in Denair, CA, and his high school years in Sandpoint, Idaho. He attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington where he met his wife Judy. Ken majored in Psychology at Whitman and then earned an MA and PhD in Experimental Psychology at Claremont Graduate School.

In 1969, Ken, with family in tow, moved to Stockton to teach in the Psychology Department at the College of the Pacific. He left teaching for three years to serve as Associate Dean and then Acting Dean of the College but returned joyfully to teaching--his real love. Students in his classes worked very hard and complained often but developed confidence and took pride in what they accomplished. Ken was a true mentor--recognizing and encouraging the talent he saw in others.

Throughout his years at Pacific, a favorite part of his day was playing noon basketball in the old gym with fellow faculty and staff, current and former students--people who loved basketball as much as he did and understood "the mystery of the game." He was happy and proud when his grandson Nicholas was able to join the noonball group.

Ken was an enthusiastic supporter of athletics at Pacific, serving for a number of years on Pacific's Athletic Advisory Board and as Faculty Representative at the conference and NCAA levels. He and his wife, Judy, were supporters of Men's and Women's Basketball and Volleyball. They could also be counted on to be at their grandson's youth sports events (basketball, soccer and baseball).

Ken's family greatly appreciates the outpouring of support from all of his friends. A Celebration of Life will be held on May 29th at 10 am in Morris Chapel at the University of Pacific, with reception to follow. The family requests donations to any of his favorite causes which included Pacific Women's athletics, the Gipson Fund supporting student travel to conferences and symposiums, NorCal Golden Retrievers Rescue, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Bowmer Fund supporting student education in theatre.