Robert Nicholas Beck

Robert Nicholas Beck, who died on June 12 in Punta Gorda, FL, age 85, provided through his career, passions, and character, ample lessons for all who were in his orbit. A loyal friend and good neighbor, Bob never lost sight of his love of family, the sea, and appreciation for music.

His spiritual center was defined by a lifetime in the Lutheran church with over three scores of loving Pink Floyd, The Moody Blues, and Fleetwood Mac. He even became a devout “Swiftie” in his final year.

His despise of corduroy pants developed during Long Island winters, long after he wore knickers and wool socks while collecting scrap metal for the WWII effort in Queens Village.

From his earliest days in Mount Vernon, NY to Longfellow Avenue in the Bronx, then to Long Island before Middleburgh, Bob was a proud New Yorker for two decades.

Bob developed his strong work ethic living atop Gates Hill in Middleburgh, carrying water from the spring in buckets and dredging through the snow up Gates Hill both ways. He hitchhiked to milk Charlie Marx’s cows before school, spent the early part of his adolescence as an outcast in rubber boots with cow manure and as the boy living in a house with an outhouse. Once he found sports, his achievements on the field & in the boxing ring earned accolades from his peers.

After graduating with the title of Prom King proudly awarded, Bob left for boot camp at Paris Island with the US Marine Corp. His Marine years of service undoubtedly defined his character.

Bob built his first house in Greenfield, MA for his first wife Barbara and sons, Paul and David, taking weekends to camp and fish on the Deerfield River within the Pioneer Valley.

Before calculators were invented, Bob became the first person certified in the Boston chapter of the National Environmental Balancing Bureau, and worked his way to Design Engineer of HVAC systems, then was certified in Sound and Vibration years later. After obtaining his plumbing License, he worked for Fred McClean for 17 years as a journeyman, forman, and road superintendent.

Bob spent the earlier part of the 1970s loving disco, even frequenting Studio 54 in New York City. Married at Mystic Seaport in CT with a honeymoon sailing to Block Island, RI on Sea Farer, his second wife Carol lovingly made a home out of their craftsman house on Bliss Road in Longmeadow, MA until the mid 90s. Their sailboat Sea Lion provided endless adventures in Long Island Sound and achieved success racing with The Baldwin Yacht Club.

With his father, George, who ran away to join the circus, it’s no surprise he ran from the suburbs to follow his dream to sail to the Bahamas aboard Dandelion, spearing lobster and octopus for dinner on deck, while Carol homeschooled Jennifer with their cat Tiger. A constant student of celestial navigation, life in the Caribbean had Bob always searching for the “green flash” seen by lucky sailors moments after sunset.

After working 40 years, Bob retired as President of B-G Mechanical Service in 1998. A powerful negotiator, Bob started RNB Consulting in 2000, bringing corporate savings to large mechanical contracting companies along the eastern seaboard. For 15 successful years, RNB Consulting allowed Bob and Carol to travel the country by RV, working for brief stints each summer.

Although Bob still rose at 4:30 AM into his 70s, his days of marine pushups-situps-jogs became predawn walks with his dog, Ruby and golf cart rides with his wife, Carol, into his early 80s.

Mrs. Gallagher, Bobby’s kindergarten teacher in the Bronx used to say, “a chain is only as strong as the weakest link” after the pledge of allegiance. There, he developed his patriotism and his insistence that he would never be the weakest link in any life pursuit. His rock in life was his wife Carol, from beach days to nights with friends, his endless love for Carol was steadfast to his final days.

Bob Beck is survived by his wife Carol and their dog Ruby of Punta Gorda, FL; Son Paul Beck, daughter-in-law Lynne and grandson Tyler of North Carolina; Son David Beck of Florida, grandsons Travis, Ryan, and Jeremy; daughter Jennifer Beck Furber, son-in-law Luke and granddaughters Betty, Lucy and Olive of Washington State.

In Heaven Bob finally sees the green flash after each sunset and joins his sister Betty Palmatier and brother-in-law Ted; Brother George Beck and sister-in-law Helen; parents George and Susan; dear friends and loved ones before him; and countless, beloved pets.

The burial will take place at Sarasota National Cemetery on June 27, 2024 at 12:30 pm. A memorial service will take place in the fall of 2024 at Messiah Lutheran Church, date and time forthcoming.