Beeaker, Stephen W.

Description

Stephen W. Beeaker

Stephen(Steve) W. Beeaker was was born April 9, 1927, in Mount Vernon, NY. , the son of Stephen and Minnie Whittaker Beeaker. He had one sister, Jane, and in Rye the family lived at 1 York Ave.

His father was a veteran of World War I, having served in the U.S. Army and worked for NY Telephone Co. for more than 35 years.

Steve attended Harrison High School, Syracuse [N. Y.] University and was graduated from Rider College, Trenton, N.J..

Steve enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Yeoman 3C during World War II and much later was proud to visit Washington, DC, as part of an Honor Flight in 2013. (See Muster Rolls)

In 1956 Steve married his loving wife Arlene, with whom he had two children, Melinda and Stephen III. Steve and Arlene owned a sailboat for 27 years and enjoyed sailing on Lake Michigan every summer through 2015 with family and friends.

He was a scholar of jazz, particularly the big band swing bands of Woody Herman, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and Harry James, which you could always find him listening to in his basement. He and Arlene frequently attended concerts, including one the Sunday before he passed.

Steve was a proud Lithuanian and die-hard White Sox fan, even attending a game of the 2005 World Series. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Rider College of Business Administration, Steve spent most of his career as an accountant for Nicor.

In retirement, he served as treasurer of the Clarendon Hills Historical Society. Steve was one of the nicest guys you could meet, always with a sly smile as he spoke passionately about his various interests. Greatly missed by his family, friends, and neighbors,

Stephen William Beeaker, Jr. (89) passed away Friday, May 20, 2016, at his home in Clarendon Hills, IL.

Steve was survived by his wife Arlene; children Melinda and Stephen; grandchildren Stephen IV, Brooke, Michael, and Connie; and sister Jane Shuck.