In Rememberance of Woody Beckman

I’m sure some of you know Woody Beckman. I met Woody online in December when my dad was diagnosed with gall bladder cancer. Woody was collecting info on patients with GB and bile duct cancer. He got me through the first few months of my dad’s diagnosis. It is with sadness that I share that Woody has left us for Heaven. My prayers go out to Woody’s family. I hope they know how much he did for others he never even met. Here’s the obituary that I found online.

Raymond “Woody” Beckman 62, left us on August 13, 2007 after a fight with gallbladder cancer which is an uncommon type of cancer. He started a web site to exchange information with other cancer patients all over the United States.
Woody graduated from Lodi High in 1963 and attended MIT, UCSB and graduated with a BA in mathematics from UC Berkeley.
While at UCSB he met Francis Eustis. They were married in 1967 and had 3 children.
He began his actuarial career in 1966 with Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company in San Francisco. In 1976 he moved to Southern California and established his own consulting business. He worked for as many as 25 insurance companies and was instrumental in the formation of at least 10 insurance companies.
He married Patti Coble in 1979. In the late 90’s he got his substitute teaching credential and taught Jr. High math and science. He loved working with children and often volunteered on field trips and science camp. For several years he accompanied senior students as a chaperone on their graduation trips to Catalina. The last one, in 2007.

He was diagnosed with cancer in 2005 and participated in clinical studies of new cancer drugs at UCI, USC and the VA Hospital in Long Beach.
He had a life long love of Lionel Trains and did much research into the Beckman family tree.
At the early age of 4, he introduced his youngest daughter, Bonnie, to the San Diego Zoo where she went through all of the steps to become a Zoo Docent. Bonnie is now a Zoology student at UCSD. She also works at the zoo with sleepovers on the weekends.
Woody passed away at home surrounded by his loving family; wife Patti Beckman, daughter Christine Beckman (Ted Mitchell), Kimberely Beckman and Bonnie Beckman.
He is survived by his mother Jean Beckman of Lodi; brothers Ronald Beckman, Lodi, Dr, Walter Beckman of Corte Madera, and sister Nancy Michels, R.N. of San Anselmo; grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his father, Raymond W. Beckman Jr., and infant son, David Beckman.
A bench will be placed in memory in the San Diego Zoo. As his sister said “SO FULL OF LIFE, EVEN IN HIS DYING, FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS HIS SPIRIT LIVES ON”
Published in the LodiNews from 8/18/2007 – 8/25/2007.