Randolph Beamon

Randolph “Randy” Beamon was born on June 10, 1949, to Alice Elizabeth Beamon and George Thomas Beamon in Suffolk, Virginia. He was the “baby” of the family, but he had a personality that was larger than life and a grit that would help him cope with the death of his father when he was 10 years old. He dealt with his grief by wandering in the woods with his beloved dog Bosco.

At the age of 14, Randy took a bus to New York City. Here, he met his future wife, Gloria, in the Bronx when they were just teens. He spent some time living on subway when he was too poor to afford an apartment. Then, he attended the New York City police. He later joined the U.S. Air Force.

Randy completed his education by obtaining a Ph.D. in computer science from New York University. In 1970, while at college, Randy and a group of students traveled to the segregated South as Freedom Riders to register black people to vote. They published a magazine called, “Imani,” which is now in the Library of Congress.

After graduation, Randy made a down payment on his mother’s longtime home. He also became a professor at his alma mater. He later taught at Touro College, Bronx Community College and other schools. He ran into trouble in 1982, when he was accused of using his computer knowledge to skim money from a bank. But, within a year, he bounced back, reinventing himself many times in the years that followed.

He purchased and ran a dry cleaners in Queens, started a helicopter company, worked on a hovercraft company overseas, ran a computer consulting business, and helped finance a clothing store. However, he most well-known for starting a cheesecake company called, Professor B’s Exotic Cheesecakes, which landed him TV segments and guest cooking gigs at restaurants.

Randy was a bit of renaissance man. He who wrote poetry for his wife, cooked for his family, volunteered often to help the disadvantaged, and served as a stay-at-home dad with his youngest child. He also traveled the world going to locations like Monaco, Paris, Switzerland, Denmark and more. He would say his greatest accomplishment was his nearly 50-year marriage, his children, and his longtime home. He also enjoyed helping family members, sometimes allowing them to stay in his home.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife Gloria, his parents, and his brother George. Randy is survived by his three children: MTamanika (Nika) Beamon-VanSchaick, Taharka Beamon and his wife Christine, and Randolph Beamon II. He will also be missed by his brother Johnnie and his sister Carlon. And Randy leaves behind two grandchildren: Jeffrey and Carter and one great grandchild: Jaxson. He will be mourned by his uncle Howard, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Randolph's memory may be made to Meals on Wheels, https://give.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/page/30079/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=l340k79a&_ga=2.26452409.524585545.1684786790-758914391.1684786790 or to a charity of your choice.