Richard T. Beebe ’24

Dr. Richard Beebe died July 28, 1998. He was 96. Born in Great Barrington, Mass., he was the son, nephew, and grandson of country doctors, and often accompanied his father on house calls. After graduating from Princeton, Beebe earned his medical degree at Johns Hopkins in 1928. In 1932 he began work at Albany [N.Y.] Medical College, where he worked for more than 60 years.

There, he helped set up departments in hematology, endocrinology, and cardiology, and oversaw the education of hundreds of physicians. He continued to make house calls until age 92 and maintained a small practice until his death. Among his many honors was the establishment of the Beebe Chair of Medicine at the Albany Medical Center.

An Albany newspaper wrote, "Because he was outspoken on the issue of money and medicine, Dr. Beebe earned his share of critics. However, his greatest contribution may have been his courage to shame people into doing more. Which is to say he was that rarest of healers: one who nurtured the best within us." He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jean, two daughters, a son, and six grandchildren.

The Class of 1924