46°
He was the son of Thomas J. and Eleanor (Chesterman) Beatson and grew up in New Rochelle, graduating from New Rochelle High School in 1950. He attended Swarthmore College, where he majored in electrical engineering, graduating with high honors.
Following graduation, Beatson was employed by General Electric as a test engineer. He qualified for the GE Advanced Engineering Program and later moved to work at the GE Computer Department Headquarters in Phoenix, Ariz., where he made his home until the time of his death.
In 1978, Beatson developed a passion for sport cycling and recognized the health benefits available, while balancing additional challenges due to his Type-1 diabetes. He had logged more than 100,000 miles by 2010.
He served on the Board of Overseers at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston for many years and became one of its top five philanthropists of all time. His philanthropy established a playroom for children with diabetes as part of its Child Life Ambassador Program. His desire to find a cure for Type-1 diabetes led him to establish several funds at Joslin, to carry on research into its complications.
Beatson knew the importance of living a healthy, vibrant life. He wanted others impacted by the disease to be able to put aside their concerns reagrding the expenses of managing a chronic disease and instead, focus on living successfully, as he had done.
Through the years, he had many close friends and associates who will remember him fondly. He will be greatly missed by his sister, Beverly (Beatson) Grossman and her husband Felix of California; nephews Peter Grossman and his wife Denise, and David Grossman and his wife Jennifer; and grand-niece and grand-nephew Kelly and Keith Grossman, all of Los Angeles.
Interment will be private and is under the direction of El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego.
A memorial celebration will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at The Terraces, 7550 N. 16th St., Phoenix, Ariz. Please RSVP to aschulte@abhow.com if you wish to attend.
In lieu of flowers, he hoped gifts would be made in his memory to: Joslin Diabetes Center One Joslin Place, Suite 745 Boston, MA 02215 or the Beatson-ABHOW Type 1 Diabetes Fund ABHOW Foundation 6120 Stoneridge Mall Road, #300 Pleasanton, CA. 94588.
Click here to follow Daily Voice New Rochelle and receive free news updates.
