Obituary of Stephen R. Beck Death date 4-14-19

Steve Beck passed away suddenly from a heart attack on April 14, 2019, at the age of 77. Steve grew up in Union City, NJ, and received bachelor degrees in Chemical Engineering and Business from Lehigh University in 1965. While at Lehigh, he was a member of Sigma Phi fraternity. After graduation, Steve joined Proctor & Gamble in Cincinnati, OH in the R&D department, where he worked for three years. During that time he discovered that business, rather than engineering, was his real talent and professional passion. Steve confirmed this while working as a Marketing Manager at Owens Corning Fiberglass in Toledo, OH. After three years there, he entered The Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where he received an MBA in 1973.
Steve and Mary C. McKenna were married in 1968.
After leaving Stanford, Steve and Mary returned to the New York area, where he pursued a successful career as CEO of an environmental engineering firm, WasteChem, in New Jersey.
After retiring in 1993, Steve became a basketball official with IAABO boards in New York and New Jersey. He thoroughly enjoyed this activity until the day he died. He refereed games of third graders up through high school students, and made many good friends among players, coaches and fellow referees.
Also after retirement, Steve began a second career consulting for entrepreneurs, from construction contractors to makers of fine furniture. He was active in this as well until his death.
Throughout his life, Steve enjoyed his extensive travels to Europe, Greece, the Caribbean, Canada and Asia. After purchasing an older home on the Hudson River in Upper Nyack, NY in 1976, he threw himself into the renovation and development of the house and garden.
Steve joined the Board of Trustees of the Nyack Library in 2013, where he served as Treasurer. He will be remembered fondly by many for his teaching and mentoring roles with his business co-workers, consulting clients and basketball colleagues and players.
Steve is survived by his wife, Mary, his sister Barbara and 14 nieces and nephews.
There will be a memorial gathering for Steve Beck on Saturday, June 29. It will be held in the

Community Room of the

Valley Cottage Library
110 Route 303
Valley Cottage, NY 10989

Hours will be 2 p.m. to 4 p. m.

This gathering will be an informal event celebrating Steve's life. All are welcome.

Please spread the word.