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A TRIBUTE TO JOE - READ TO THE CLASS OF 79 AT THE TENTH REUNION
Mrs. Sue T. Beard
Fort Pierce Central High School
Class of 1979
June 20, 1989
Dear Class of '79:
Great day, how'd you all get so old? Here you are, all grown up, some of you married, some of you with kids. We received a Christmas card from Steve Swartwood with a picture of his pretty wife and baby daughter. And how about that crazy Ohio, married and writing such a wise and loving letter to us last summer!
Life has been so life-like, hasn't it? There's been some wonderful, some sweet, some scary, some bitter, some lonely - but here we are, at a 10th year high school reunion, and one of the greatest pleasures you are going to have is reliving the old wonderful, sweet, scary and hearing about the wonderful, sweet, scary things that have happened since.
And that brings us to the reason for this letter. Joe Beard, Mr. Legs of 1979, will be there in spirit, you can believe that; but not in body.
In Joe's love for adventure, he had become friends with another '79 high school graduate (of Key West) who was a roommate at UCF, and a licensed pilot. They continued that friendship on through the years as the Key West man's life became more out of the mainstream and normal patterns because of the illegal business he conducted.
The week before he died, Joe spent the entire week on vacation with us, fishing with his dad, going with Donna
to the Mall to buy her and their dad a birthday gift, talking with me about the latest books we were reading, Sandra's wedding plans (she married in December after Joe's death), what the political scene looked like. (Harry, he had registered Republican; after his death, his registration card came in the mail, and when I went to vote, there was his name on the list just above his dad's.) Three weeks after his murder, a friend of his called me and said that the talk on the street that week was that Jeff was going to take Joe to Key West with him and then he'd get his money. At 17, Joe was 6'0" and weighed 225; at 26, he was 6"4" and weighed 320.
A friend of ours who is an FDLE agent and knows Joe's friend from high school and knew Joe, said that "Joe's just like us, he loves excitement and adventure - he just got too close to the wrong kind."
Remember Joe. Remember he was human with faults and foibles, but sweet and growing wiser. He never married, never finished his college career, had not seen the business he started flourish and grow - but the adventuresome spirit, the daring that he exhibited at 17 was present at 26 (remember the night he drove nose first into the canal between Sunrise and U.S.I and poor Mr. Brantley tried to pull that silver Nova out?); the pleasure he found in meeting and knowing all kinds of people that he exhibited at 17 was present at 26 (who ever enjoyed a toga party more?); the search for abundant life that I saw in him as a child had not abated or dulled at 26.
So celebrate this weekend; salute Joe as one too far away to travel, not one missing, because he has only moved ahead of us. Remember to enjoy each other, to look for the excitement of friendship, the adventure of work done well, the zest of contributing to the health and well-being of whatever community you are now adult members of; and love your children with a love that accepts and hopes. Joe taught us that and we would pass it on to you as his legacy.
God bless you one and all,
Roy & Sue Beard
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Robin Gessner (Fry)
Really beautiful - thanks for taking the time to do that. We loved Joe too. MANY happy memories.Julian J. Dunleavy
Seems like every school has a "John Belushi". Joe was that person for the class of 1979!Thanks to Lori Schirard-Grubb for posting the letter Joe's mother wrote and shared with us @ the 10th reunion.
Does anyone have a photo of Joe in a toga?
Roger Baird
Miss you Joe. We had so many good times together. It's hard to believe you've been gone so long.Lori Schirard (Grubb)
You will be with us this weekend (and always) in our hearts.Kelley Benway-Renz (Class Of 1980)
Joe, oh, so many great memories!You are so missed, but, we know you're having the TOGA party of the universe!!!!