Eleanor Patricia Beck ’44, March 22, 2011, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Patricia grew up in Seattle and came to Reed, where she became the first woman student body president. She later cited Sally Hovey Wriggins ’44, Victor L.O. Chittick [English 1921-48], and Edna Whitman Chittick [music 1931-39] as major influences. “It was a marvelous experience to participate in an intellectual community. I think it must have been Reed's education that taught me to ask questions about anything and everything, and it was a splendid introduction to the landscapes and culture of Portland and Oregon.” After earning her BA in history, Patricia received a scholarship to Stanford University, but the program's lack of intellectual rigor disenchanted her. She quit and got a job as a copy editor at Time-Life, first in New York and later in London, then moved to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] to be a nursemaid for British friends. She contracted polio, but recovered the use of her limbs thanks to excellent nursing. Following that, she got a job on the Ceylon Observer, an English-language newspaper, and traveled extensively in the East before returning to England. She held a brief position with the Press Association/Reuters and then set up her own public relations and printing company with fellow Reuters employee Stanley Clark. In 1958, she became a British citizen, citing her abhorrence for the violence and for the gap between rich and poor in the U.S. among her reasons for doing so. At age 50, Patricia enrolled at agricultural college and worked 10 years on farms in England and Scotland. She then became a librarian at St. Leonard's boarding school in St. Andrews, Scotland. Among her many pursuits in retirement, she learned about the stars and birds and mammals, and repaired the gaps in stonewalls near her home that were made by sheep and cows.
Appeared in Reed magazine: September 2011
A Lively Mind in Pursuit of Delight
A Role Model for a Well-Lived Life at Reed
Deeply Committed Scientist and Mentor
Jack of All Trades with a Passion for Carpentry and Writing
Bringing a Deep Love of Learning to Tektronix
Loyal Friend, Photographer of Wolves
Writer, Photographer, Crane Operator, Teacher
Thoughtful Teacher, Passionate Debater
A Humorous and Compassionate Bridge Builder
Lifelong Learner, Teacher, and Community Builder
Prolific Programmer and Transpersonal Psychologist
Tenacious Scholar in an Evolving Field
Physicist, Professor, and Researcher
Never a Follower, Always Charted His Own Path
Director of Private Music Instruction at Reed [1988–2010]
Professor of English at Reed [English 1973–78]
Cherished Friend, Daughter, Sister, Cousin, and Niece
Visionary Drummer, Advocate for Tribal Fisheries, and Recognized Authority on Bigfoot
Physician, Neurologist, Teacher, and Advocate
Composer, Arts Administrator, Archivist, and Historian
Award-Winning Musician, Played With Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, and Woody Shaw
Professor at Dartmouth College and the University of Toronto
Pioneering Cardiologist, Inventor, and Entrepreneur
Documenting Justice and Injustice Alike
Acclaimed Blues Guitar and Piano Player
Loved Working at the Bilingual Crossroads in Technology and Publishing
Leading Economist and Respected Expert on Finance
Pioneer in the Field of Alternative Somatic Therapies
Advocate For Collaboration, Team Building, and Personal Connection
Big Brain, Big Heart, a Lifetime of Learning
Devoted Her Life to Education and Music
Discoverer of Radiopolarography and Nobel Prize Winner
Scholar of Chinese Culture and Language
Insightful Critic and Dedicated Poet
Master of the Ancient Art of Japanese Carpentry
Longtime Programmer and Adventurous Explorer
Beloved Husband, Devoted Father, Treasured Grandfather, and Venerated Professor
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