Date Deceased: November-6-2007
Age at Death: 53

November 8, 2007 Indianapolis Star Mark Beckerman gave patients counsel, time, self; Beloved 'country doctor' dies By Melanie D. Hayes "He always had a smile on his face, always had time for you. He probably didn't make as much money as he could have because he took so much time with you." Jim Padgett, longtime patient He was what many would call a "country doctor" -- a rare breed in today's world. Dr. Mark Beckerman, a well-known family physician in Carmel for about 24 years, died Tuesday morning after battling kidney cancer for eight years. He was 53. Carmel resident Jim Padgett had been one of Beckerman's first patients. His wife, Barbara, and a daughter and two sons also turned to him when they were ill. "He always had a smile on his face, always had time for you," said Padgett, 71. "He probably didn't make as much money as he could have because he took so much time with you. "It wasn't a rush job. He wanted to talk. He asked about your family. It wasn't about making conversation -- he really wanted to know. "He may be the last of the country doctors," he said. Beckerman sacrificed his time, even giving up evenings and weekends to help his patients. Padgett remembered when one of his sons, who was 14 at the time, was playing ball in the backyard and stepped on a rusty nail, which went into his foot. Padgett called Beckerman at home. "He wasn't on call but he said, 'Drive him up to my office, meet me there, and I'll give him a tetanus shot,'" Padgett said. "It was kind of neat. I could get a hold of him day or night. That's where we get the feeling of a country doctor. A doctor like that doesn't exist today." Beckerman, who was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, graduated from Case Western Reserve Medical School in 1980. Barbara Kluve-Beckerman, his wife of almost 28 years, said her husband spent six years in the Army as a physician, first near Washington, D.C., then at Fort Harrison. In 1983, Beckerman joined a practice in Carmel, but shortly after, the presiding physician died. Beckerman took over the practice and remained there until his health forced him to retire in August 2007. Kluve-Beckerman, 57, Carmel, said her husband truly enjoyed interacting with people and listening to them as part of his profession. "The idea of family practice is the continuity of care, following patients for a long time," she said. "He really got to know the people as friends. That has been a driving motivation for him, just to watch them and help them heal. He made people of all faiths and backgrounds feel comfortable." Beckerman loved spending time with his own family as well, including his wife and two daughters, Holly and Sarah, now 22 and 19. They often went on family vacations that involved camping, fishing and swimming in Michigan and Florida. He also enjoyed hiking with his family and big dogs, and having cookouts with neighbors and family. Eight years ago, Beckerman was diagnosed with kidney cancer. "He's been amazing in terms of his comeback," Kluve-Beckerman said in an interview before he died. "He's been able to cope with his disabilities and work through them. About five years ago he began using a wheelchair -- but he didn't let that slow him down." Beckerman, described by his wife as positive, disciplined, friendly and accepting, continued to go out of his way to help people. He encouraged her to pursue a career of her own, she said, and he was always devoted to his daughters, frequently helping them with their homework and attending their sporting events. "(He) tried to never miss a cross country meet," Kluve-Beckerman said. "Even when he could no longer walk, he managed to get on the IU Bloomington golf course for the girls high school state finals in 2003." Padgett said Beckerman set an example for all to follow. "He shows his feelings for his patients, for mankind," he said. "I can't get over the courage the man had to fight this. He was in a wheelchair for several years, practicing. "He is a personal hero to a lot of patients," he said. "There aren't a lot of heroes out there, but he is certainly one of them."