Former Professor Beckman passes away at age 89

Former Professor Beckman passes away at age 89, Issue 17, Katie Jenkins-Moses, News - By Katie Jenkins-Moses on Thursday, February 9, 2012 - 03:40

In an e-mail that was sent out to the faculty on Thursday, Feb. 2, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty Charlotte Borst announced that former Associate Professor of Education Darold R. Beckman had passed away on Jan. 17 at the age of 89 in Tennessee.

According to Borst, after being a part of the Whittier College community for over 28 years from—1961 to his retirement in 1989—Beckman was very active on campus. “His specialty was elementary education, and throughout his career, he enjoyed the deep respect of his colleagues in education,” Borst wrote. “He was very active in CAPEE (California Association of Professors in Higher Education), serving on the Association’s Board, and as President of CAPEE from 1972-74.  At Whittier, he also enjoyed the respect of his faculty colleagues, serving on the Executive Board as Treasurer of the Faculty Senate in 1969-1970.  He helped to write the College’s WASC accreditation report, as well as service for numerous other college committees. 

The e-mail dictated that “like some of our best students, Professor Beckman began his academic career at a two-year college (New London College) in 1940.  He served his country during World War II as a skipper of a Naval landing craft for eighteen months in the Philippines.  The Navy also recognized his academic abilities, sending him to Middlebury College for the V-7 program in 1943.  Following the war, he received his BA, MA, and EdD all from New York University. Professor Beckman was also known for his talents as a journalist—while he was in the navy, he was also a journalist, reporting on the turbulent months in post-war Manila.  Later he did independent reporting in Central America and during the Tian An Men uprising.”

Beckman is survived by his wife Betty Jones Beckman and his two sons.