A quantum particle was observed passing to a different state on the evening of December 10th, 2024. Bill truly lived his own duality: affable outdoorsman and serious scientist.
William Asbury Beck, Jr. was born in Seattle on October 24th, 1955 to William A. Beck and Victoria Wolloshuk Beck. As a classmate recently noted, in school he liked to boast he was actually William A. Beck the Third, as his grandad was also William A. Beck. Bill Jr. began life in West Seattle, where at an young age he was introduced to the beautiful PNW (provided he wasn’t sleeping). He showed his propensity for independent thought early on. This mindset put a quick end to his string bass career-and nearly the string bass-when he believed he could carry it home the several blocks from Arbor Heights Elementary. His future as a pianist also ended abruptly, after sassing the piano teacher. Music, however, remained an important part of his life.
The Becks, now numbering five, moved to Maple Valley in the early 1960s where the second Bill Beck started his own homestead, similar to what the first had built on Burnt Hill above Sequim, except this was an A-frame with modern plumbing. Still, the family returned regularly to “the Hill”, enjoying bushwhacking through underbrush, damming up Johnson Creek for their dog Sable, and shooting tin cans with the trusty .22. Such trips began with a visit to Bill’s close friend on a farm off Happy Valley Road at the foot of Burnt Hill. They also took many trips to B.C. for vacations, and to visit Vicci’s side of the family in the Vancouver area.
Rural Maple Valley was a wonderful place to grow up: the Becks enjoyed having dogs, cats, horses, and chickens, and Bill Jr. thrived on the freedom there. It was easy to make friends at Tahoma, a much smaller school district then. West Seattle friends also came to visit, especially the Pedersen family. Besides bonding over dinner at the kids’ table, everyone had fun riding mini-bikes and running around the woods after dark playing spies. Sometimes the Becks spent time at the Pedersen cabin on Hood Canal, or camping together on Vancouver Island. Those experiences led to a lifelong friendship between oldest son Perry and Bill Jr.
At school, Bill excelled at the trombone. He loved playing in Gold Band and Stage Band, and even bought a bass trombone to expand his range. He rarely looked happier than when improvising a jazz solo on the stage of the original Tahoma High School auditorium. Another brief extracurricular interest was the performing arts. Most memorable was his 7th grade role as the conflicted husband in Sorry, Wrong Number performed on stage at the Maple Valley Grade School. As Bill was not shy and loved speaking his mind, he was also a natural for the debate team. Bill was athletic as well but bypassed traditional team sports although he loved the challenge of Varsity tennis and also played on the golf team. Out of school, he became active in karate with his friend Zane, occasionally competing in tournaments.
The Becks were an athletic bunch, going on family backpack trips in the summer and skiing in the winter. Hyak was the fond favorite, despite Bill Jr’s broken leg in Hidden Valley. Bill Jr’s dad was also an avid climber who roped up his sons early on, and they enjoyed adventures on many local mountains. (Yes, he took the brothers to the Brothers.) Later, Bill Jr. mostly climbed with college buddies Don and Tom – unless brother Dan happened to be in town.
Bill’s true gift, however, was academics. He stayed in the classroom-and kept out of trouble-when teachers truly challenged him. Bill took four years of German, and all the math and science Tahoma offered. Growing as strong as his intellect was his desire for independence. Bill thought the military would provide this (as well as the GI bill), and so, cutting his shoulder-length hair, joined the Army just after graduation in 1973. Bill survived basic training, and did well in electronics school, but had trouble adjusting to the discipline of regular Army life. This led to poor health, which escalated into a life-threatening condition, and Bill received a medical discharge in 1975.
After his health stabilized, Bill attended the University of Washington. He doubled majored in Electrical Engineering and Chemistry, but also found time to study French, including a quarter abroad in Avignon. By graduation however, Bill was ready for a regular paycheck. He got a job at Advanced Technology Laboratories (ATL) developing ultrasound equipment, specifically the sensitive scan heads. This is where he met Rena, who became and remained a close friend to Bill and an honorary member of the Beck family. It was Rena, originally from Hawaii, who first introduced Bill to the Haleakala Crater back in 1983, when it was still possible to hike all the way in to Paliku Cabin. This hike became one of Bill’s favorites, and one on which he regularly took many different friends.
Bill was successful professionally, but academia lured him back to the U.W. to pursue a PhD in Physics. Dr. Beck, as he would call himself with a smirk, went on to work for a number of medical device companies, including Quantum, Siemens, and PhysioSonics. He also began his own consulting business. His research and work took him all over the world, primarily Russia and Japan. Scotland was also a favorite stop. Bill loved international travel but enjoyed trips closer to home too: Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and Eastern Washington, especially Lake Chelan.
Bill’s travels were matched only by his hospitality. In true William A. Beck fashion, he too had a homestead, where he lived for nearly 40 years, just miles from the Beck A-frame. His oyster roasts, potlucks, bonfire parties, and Christmas Day breakfasts–not to mention his fruitcake–were legendary.
In addition to climbing, hiking, and skiing, Bill enjoyed paragliding and biking. His leaps off Poo Poo Point and other peaks with friend Christian aloft nearby, and (one-day) STP bike rides filled his life. Sadly, as Bill’s health declined over the last three years, he found himself unable to participate in these. He physically passed on December 10th, but began dying on the inside when he was forced to leave his active life behind.
Bill never married, but he loved deeply and was loved in return. Moreover, he was the person people felt lucky to count as a family member or friend. He could make you mad or drive you crazy, but when needed, he was there.
Bill is predeceased by parents, Bill and Vicci, cat Bob who came with the house, and later felines Soccer Ball and Tiger. Many close relatives as well as German friends Jürgen and Martina have also gone on ahead. Bill is survived by sister Heidi, brother Dan and wife Misty, their three sons, and their families. It was Bill who encouraged his oldest nephew Dane to move to Seattle and follow his footsteps in physics, and got him his first professional job. Cousins on both sides of the family, close neighbors, and countless friends will also mourn his too-soon passing.
Bill will be buried at the Maple Valley-Hobart Cemetery on Saturday, January 18th, with the service beginning at 1 p.m. All whom his life has touched are welcome to attend.
