Charles H. Beck, 64, of Stonington, retired psychotherapist, former director of Norton Sound Health Corporation in Nome, Alaska, and energy healer, died suddenly from heart failure on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
Charles was born in Montclair, N.J. to John Beck and Jean Whittemore Hamlin. He spent his early years on Block Island and attended grammar school there. He kept a lifetime connection with the Island.
Charles received his graduate degree at the University of San Francisco with postgraduate work at the California School of Psychology. His many achievements include private practice as a psychotherapist in Santa Rosa, Calif., program coordinator for the Mercy Medical Center, Durango, Colo., working with the Navajo Nation and as a systems improvement coach, program director for Jicarilla Mental Health and Social Services, Dulce, N.M. He lived and worked with the Jicarilla Apache Tribe and ran the Domestic Violence Prevention Program there. In 2001, he became division director of behavioral health services, Norton Sound Health, in Nome, Alaska and retired in 2005 for medical reasons.
His interest in healing arose from his training with Dr. Milton Erickson in hypnotherapy, cranial sacral training and his living among the Apache tribe for many years.
Charles lived for the past seven years in Stonington, bringing him closer to his east coast relatives and friends.
He was an accomplished photographer, writer and teacher. His passions also included meditation, Theosophy, Buddhism, The Tao, VW buses, almost all music, watercolors, computers, the fight against climate change, and most recently bee keeping.
He leaves his daughter, Jena A. Beck of San Luis Obispo, Calif.; his life partner, Lorie Sava of Stonington; his stepson, Chris Sava of Boston, Mass.; his sister, Barbara "Bobbie" Reynolds of East Greenwich and Block Island, R.I.; two nieces, three nephews, six grandnieces and five grandnephews.
His brother, John Beck; and sisters, Diane Migliaccio and Lavonne Woodman, predeceased Charles.
He was an adored father, partner, brother, uncle and friend.
Please join us in a celebration of his life at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at the La Grua Center, 32 Water St., Stonington.
To share a message of condolence or remembrance with his family, please click the link below.