William Stanley Beamish Jr.

August 3, 1923 – October 20, 2026

William Stanley Beamish, Jr., a proud World War II veteran, devoted husband and father, passionate music lover, and a lifelong adventurer, passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 20, 2026, at home in Jensen Beach at the age of 103, with his beloved wife and family close by. Born on August 3, 1923, Bill carried the spirit of his Boston heritage throughout a life marked by courage, curiosity, compassion, and an extraordinary zest for living. He graduated from the Wilbraham Academy in Massachusetts in 1941 before enrolling as a freshman at the University of Wisconsin before answering his country’s call to service in 1942.

From 1942 to 1945, Bill served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II with his final assignment in Attu, at the far end of the Aleutian Islands, where he served beneath the remote and frigid skies of the North Pacific. His military service remained an enduring part of his identity, and he never forgot the sacrifices made by his fellow servicemen. Decades later, at the age of 103, Bill experienced one of the greatest honors of his life when he traveled for the fourth time to the Normandy American Cemetery to pay tribute to the thousands of American soldiers who lie in rest on Omaha Beach. On September 8, 2026, Bill had the privilege of lowering the American flag and bringing the ceremonially-folded flag home. On the morning of September 9th, he returned to raise the flag over the 9,389 gravesites of his fellow servicemen who gave the ultimate sacrifice on D-Day in 1944 in service to their country.

Calling San Diego his home after World War II, Bill shared more than fifty years of marriage with his wife, Ruth, who passed away in 2000. Together they established very strong family ties including their daughter Laura Hemming who now also lives in Florida with her husband Leland Hemming. Upon graduation from San Diego State University, his adventuresome spirit led him to have a varied career including in the fields of investment banking, property management, and owning a Porsche dealership.

In 2009, Bill married Dr. Marie Jureit-Beamish, Professor Emerita of Music from Principia College, thus marking the beginning of a wonderful new chapter in Florida filled with music, travel, lifelong learning, and love. He immediately embraced Marie’s family as his own which included daughthers Lindsay Garritson, Ashley Gelber, and Laura Parker, son Nile Garritson and their families. Bill treasured these relationships and the countless new friends who enriched his later years.

With music as one of Bill’s great lifelong passions, he volunteered in support of a variety of music organizations in San Diego. Through Principia College’s Lifelong Learning program, he enrolled in more than fifty music courses taught by “Dr. Marie”-- his best-loved teacher. Their shared love of music became a special bond in their marriage, enriching their lives with discovery, conversation, and joy. Bill also held a deep love for God, his church, animals, and the many expressions of beauty and goodness he encountered throughout his life.

Bill’s appetite for adventure remained undiminished well into his one hundred third year traveling to all corners of the earth with his beloved Marie who was always at his side. Just in his final year, he traveled more extensively than many people manage in a lifetime.

After paying his respects at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii, he embarked on a South Pacific cruise, and in January 2026, he journeyed to Antarctica for the fourth time with close friends. In March he circumnavigated Japan with friends and family, and, for his 103rd birthday in August, he was celebrated aboard a cruise to Mexico and the Caribbean, where he received a magnificent tribute honoring his World War II service. In September, Bill traveled with Marie and Lindsay to London and Paris, completing his memorable final chapter to a lifetime of exploration. These journeys reflected the man he was: adventurous, engaged with the world, grateful for friendships, and always eager to discover what lay beyond the next horizon.

Throughout his 103 years, Bill was known for his deep compassion, independent spirit, and determination to live life to the fullest. He approached life on his own terms, with a generous heart and an enduring appreciation for family, friendship, music, and the wonders of the world.

A favorite song of his was Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” a fitting reflection of the way he lived—with courage, conviction, and a spirit uniquely his own. Bill leaves behind a legacy of love, service, adventure, and kindness. He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, and family patriarch; a veteran who honored those who served alongside him; a devoted church member; a music enthusiast and a lifelong learner; and a man whose curiosity and enthusiasm for life never diminished. He lived fully, loved deeply, and truly did it his way.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, November 28 at 3 p.m. at his home in Jensen Beach. For details, please e-mail [email protected]. RSVP’s are required.

Bill’s generosity was expressed throughout the community in the numerous organizations that he and his wife continuously supported. Suggested local organizations to support in his honor include: the Christian Science Church, the Atlantic Classical Orchestra, MartinArts.org, the Symphonia of Boca Raton, as well as his family’s Jureit Musicales (The Marie and J Calvin Jureit Foundation). Ever surrounded by his beloved rescue pets, he loved to support any animal rescue organization. In a wider circle, he always cherished Principia College in Illinois, where he was the star pupil enrolling in more than 50 classes from his favorite teacher, his wife Marie and the love of his life.