John W. Beal ’41

ARTIST, COLUMNIST, and wicked humorist John Beal died in a New Paltz nursing home Jan. 14, 1994. He and his wife, Mary Ramsdell Beal, had lived in Newburgh, N.Y. Born to a Hudson River family, John's grandfather founded the Central Hudson Gas & Electric Co. Two uncles, Reynolds and Gifford Beal 1900, were museumgrade impressionist painters. After Hotchkiss, at Princeton, John played freshman soccer, crew, and rugby; majored in English; acted at Intime; and belonged to Colonial. Pearl Harbor interrupted John's architectural study at U.S.C. and John went to 90day wonder school before joining the John Paul Jones and becoming one of that select breed known as Tin Can Sailors.

His First postwar job was with WGNYradio. Next came 15 years with the family company. But love for cartooning and editorial expression moved John to give this up for the modest pay of a position with the NEWBURGH SENTINAL, where his provocative work led to an appointment to the influential Hudson River Valley Commission. True to his heritage, he never stopped painting pictures of high quality.

Besides Mary, John is survived by their children, John, Matthew C., Elizabeth Bowman, and Corneliao Forrence; a brother, Alger D.; and a sister, Allelu Kurten. There are six grandchildren. To all of them we extend deep sympathy.

The Class of 1941