George M. Beschen, 73, Philly teacher
George M. Beschen, 73, of Burholme, a Philadelphia schoolteacher for 35 years, died Tuesday, June 14, at Wesley Enhanced Living in Northeast Philadelphia.
George M. Beschen, 73, of Burholme, a Philadelphia schoolteacher for 35 years, died Tuesday, June 14, at Wesley Enhanced Living in Northeast Philadelphia.
He had been diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease in 2004.
For 22 years, Mr. Beschen taught third and fourth grades at John Welsh School, at Fourth and York Streets in North Philadelphia. It wasn't uncommon for students to come to school hungry, so he kept apples and crackers on hand.
"You can't fill a mind on an empty stomach," he told his family.
Mr. Beschen's record as a teacher moved Welsh principal Martin H. Shinefeld to write a glowing letter on Nov. 13, 1985, to the city's school superintendent. "If the Philadelphia school system had 15,000 George Beschens, it would be the premier system in the country," Shinefeld wrote.
In 1989, Mr. Beschen moved to Fox Chase School. Students there had more advantages, but they received the same kindhearted treatment from Mr. Beschen, his family said. He retired in 2001.
When not in the classroom, Mr. Beschen was a CYO softball coach for Presentation B.V.M. Parish in Cheltenham, which drew parishioners from the lower Northeast. Between 1981 and 1991, his team won several championships. He also sang tenor with the Abington Choral Club for nearly 30 years, and was a founding member of the Burholme Town Watch.
Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Beschen moved to North Wildwood at age 7 and graduated from Wildwood Catholic High School in 1961. He earned a bachelor's degree in history education at what is now La Salle University in 1966, and a master's degree in education from Temple University in 1970.
John Welsh School honored him with its Teacher of the Year award in 1986. That year, he also won an award from the National Geographic Society for "excellence in teaching geography."
A gifted writer, Mr. Beschen always made writing a part of his lessons. "During my early years of teaching, I came to understand that it is not so much what a teacher says that is most important, it is what a child hears," he wrote after being nominated for another teaching award in 1997. "Since writing is an exercise that takes place within a child's mind, it offers me a clearer idea of his/her understanding of subject matter."
He had a lifelong devotion to physical activity. At Fox Chase, he often biked to work. At recess, he played basketball with students. He spent summers with his family in Lavallette, N.J., where beachgoers grew accustomed to seeing him take his bright yellow kayak into the ocean.
He began many summer mornings with two hours of doubles tennis. He took up running at 46. As a result, much of his summer wardrobe consisted of shorts and T-shirts from various 5-mile and 10K runs.
Although he always considered himself lucky, Mr. Beschen had experienced loss. His only brother, James, a Marine Corps corporal, died in Vietnam in July 1966 at age 21. And Mr. Beschen endured his long illness with abundant grace, his family said.
"We had the best experience with this disease because of his kind and noble nature," said his daughter, Mary. "He never lost his sense of wonder."
Besides his daughter, he is survived by his wife, Bettyanne Ludwig Beschen; daughters Elizabeth Liddell and Kate; son George III; three grandchildren; two sisters; and nieces and nephews.
Services were Friday, June 17.
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