Leslie (Les) Beach

Les Beach was a man who accepted people as they were without judgment. He was a psychology professor, lifelong learner and lived a life of service to others including, in retirement, being a mental health volunteer for the American Red Cross who helped at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attack in New York City. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather who always encouraged others to become healthy, whole persons with loving relationships.

Born on August 29, 1926 in Crystal Valley, Michigan to Harry and Eva (Wightman) Beach, Les was the youngest of five children. At the age of five, Les and his family moved to Houghton, New York in pursuit of educational opportunities for the children. Shortly after the move, Les’ father died, leaving his wife, Eva along to raise the children in the post-Depression era. Times were hard during the 1930’s, especially for a family who had relied on farming for a living and now were left without a father. Les learned at a young age to work hard, budget money, and work for the benefit of the family.

After graduating from high school at Houghton Academy, he enrolled in Houghton College where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology while working his way through school as a typesetter for the school newspaper. He received a Master’s of Education at Wayne State University in Education Psychology and then a PhD. from the University of Michigan in Psychology and Education.

While he was in high school and college he enjoyed sports, especially basketball and running the hurdles at which he excelled. At Houghton College his record in the hurdles stood unbroken for many decades. His years in college were interrupted by his service with the Navy during World War II where he worked for the U.S. Naval Communication Intelligence Organization. It was during college that he married another student named, Jayne, and with whom he had son, Randy. Les and Jayne were married for 15 years. During this time he taught psychology at General Motors Institute in Detroit, and Whitworth College in Spokane, WA.

After a divorce he took a position at Bowling Green State University in Ohio and married Carla Cannon on December 6, 1963 in Bowling Green. In 1964 they moved to Holland Michigan when he accepted a position at Hope College where he taught until his retirement in 1991. They started a family and brought Lisa and Michael into the world. As a family they enjoyed camping, traveling around the United States and to Europe.

Les continued his life-long love of sports and was an avid fan of U of M football, Hope College football and basketball and made sure that Lisa and Mike had opportunities to share his enthusiasm. Throughout his adult life he enjoyed cross country skiing, swimming, golf and playing tennis with Carla.

Les has been a life-long learner and an avid reader who kept abreast of current events, national news and ensuring that the geneology of the Beach family was current and was the proud owner of the book Beach in America which traced the family roots back to the 1600’s.

He had an active professional life with many professional publications and he co-authored the textbook Psychology in Business.

After retirement, he and Carla traveled to places like Maui and Europe which were memorable times. Retirement gave him more time to make some of his world class fudge, chocolate of course, since he was an admitted “chocoholic!”

After retirement, he did volunteer work for Community Action House and as a mental health volunteer for the Red Cross where he had numerous assignments following floods and hurricanes. He was profoundly impacted by his experience at Ground Zero. He served on the board for the Center for Women in Transition. He was a member of HASP (Hope Academy of Senior Professionals).

Les was a member of Hope Church and a former member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served both as an elder. He was a student of faith and had a strong faith in God. He looked for the good in people and invested himself in relationships because he believed that good relationships fostered the growth of individuals and groups. He believed that every stage of life was valuable and he lived his life with intention.

Les was a good listener, a peaceable man, and an advocate for the less fortunate in the world. His professional work, his volunteer work and his impact on friends and family are the fruits of his life. He will be missed by all who were blessed to know him in his long and productive life.

Les Beach of Holland died Sunday, September 7, 2008 at Holland Hospital.

Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Carla; children, Rev. Dr. Randy (Joan) McGrandy-Beach of Pleasanton, CA; Lisa Boes of Holland; and Michael Beach of Otsego; grandchildren, Ian(Jessica) McGrady-Beach, Emily McGrady-Beach, Alyssa McGrady-Beach, Isaac Boes, Jack Beach and Laurel Beach; brothers, Gerald(Marge) Beach of Chicago and Richard(Lucille) Beach of Rochester, NY; in-laws, Kim(Wade) Washington of Federal Way, WA and Kelly(Carol) Cannon of Seattle.

Memorial Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Hope Church, 77 West 11th Street, with the Revs. Gordon Wiersma and Jill Russell officiating.

Burial will be Restlawn Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be 2-3:30 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at the Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes-Mulder Chapel, 188 West 32nd Street.

Memorial contributions may be made to Community Action House or Hope Church.