Obituary of Dale S. Beach

DALE S. BEACH Latham-Dale S. Beach, 87 of Latham, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at the Community Hospice Inn at St. Peter's surrounded by loved ones. . Dale is survived by his wife Joan (Wiswell-Bickford) of 26 years; his son Eric (Elizabeth) Beach, grandchildren Brad and Erica of Endicott; his daughter-in-law Sandra Beach-Rhoades; Grandchildren Jon and Amelia Beach of Latham and his brother James Beach of Williamsville. He is also survived by his step-children John Bickford of Catskill, Barbara Kerker of Elizabethtown, PA and Robert (Susan) Bickford of Annville PA, his step-grandchildren Sarah (Jonathan) Adelman, Amy Kerker, Robert, Andrew, Molly and Amanda Bickford; and step-great-granddaughter Meg Adelman. Dale was predeceased by his first wife Shirley (Wheeler) Beach and son Jeffrey Beach. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Robert (Katherine) Wheeler and several nieces and nephews. Dale was born in Williamsville, NY in 1923 to the late Elmer and Octavia (Wahl) Beach. He entered Cornell University in 1946 to study Industrial Engineering. After two years at Cornell, Dale joined the US Army as a technician assigned to the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, TN. Upon discharge he was hired by Union Carbide Corporation as an Assistant Research Engineer and returned to complete his degree at Cornell. Dale worked in industry for a few years before returning to Cornell for a Master's Degree in Industrial and Labor Relations. He taught industrial engineering classes while at Cornell and upon graduation took a teaching position at Lehigh University. In 1954, Dale began teaching at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, where he remained until his retirement in 1988. Dale rose through the academic ranks at RPI to become a full professor and served as Chairman of the Managerial Policy and Organization Department within the School of Management. He also chaired the Faculty Council and RPI Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. During this academic career, Dale authored a college textbook on human resource management, edited other textbooks, and published several journal articles. Dale practiced as an arbitrator in public and private sector labor employment disputes over a span of 40 years. He served as a member of the Mediator and Fact-Finding Panel of the NYS Public Employment Relations Board and was an active member of the American Arbitration Association and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Dale also consulted with several industrial companies over the years and conducted many management seminars for business, unions, civic, and academic groups. Throughout his life, he had a great love of travelling which he enjoyed with all the family and was a particular lover of history and he liked to quote much of it to the family. Dale believed in serving his community and actively participated as chair of the Hudson-Mohawk Group of the Sierra Club, president of the Latham Rotary Club (recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award), trustee of the Town of Colonie Historical Society, member of the Board of Trustees of the Pruyn House, Secretary-with his wife, Joan, of the Latham Circle Squares square dance club, and chair of the Administrative Council of the Calvary United Methodist Church. An outdoor enthusiast, Dale enjoyed downhill & cross country skiing well into his 80's. He hiked and backpacked in the White, Green & Adirondack mountains of the Northeast, and was an avid boater who spent many summers on Lake George with his family. Relatives and friends are invited to call Saturday April 30, 2011 from 12-2 PM at Dufresne & Cavanaugh Funeral Home, 149 Old Loudon Road, Latham. Funeral services will be held Saturday at the funeral home immediately following the visitation at 2:00 pm. Pastor John Phillippe will officiate In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Calvary United Methodist Church, Belle Ave. & Ridge Pl., Latham NY 12110 or to Community Hospice of Rensselaer Cty., 295 Valley View Blvd., Rensselaer, NY 12144. Interment will take place Monday at Sunnyside Cemetery in Tunkhannock, Pa. For directions, information or to light a memory candle for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com