Richard C. Beatty

Belmont - Richard C. Beatty 'The Clyde' passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 23rd, after a fifteen-year battle against Parkinson's Disease. Throughout his life, Richard maintained his dry sense of humor, stubborn will, offbeat taste in music, and love for the outdoors. Most importantly, he cherished relationships with family and close friends. Never interested in "quality merchandise at a high, high price," Richard was most content watching a Sox game with a beer and a hot dog (or nine…one for each inning).

Simple pleasures brought him immeasurable joy. He loved being outside. He played baseball, loved competitive road races, and had lots of memories skiing. Later on, he enjoyed watching his kids participate in sports events. He never missed a dance competition, a track event, a swim meet, a boxing match, or a ball game. Until he reached age sixty, Richard coached his girls' soft-ball teams, yelling "Keep an eye on the ball!" from the sidelines. Annual summer vacations on the Cape were spent reading and doing crosswords on the beach. He was a history buff and had immense curiosity about other cultures and countries. He reminisced about vacations to India and Italy with his daughters.

Later in life, he was happy with a "cup o' joe" and a plain donut. The radio was always on, and he listened to everything (loudly). Janis Joplin, The Band, Nirvana, Simon and Garfunkel, Rage Against the Machine, Lana del Rey, and the soundtrack to Phantom of the Opera were favorites. He danced and sang along at a Lady Gaga concert at the Garden at age 75; he was truly young at heart.

Though he was never without an off-color joke, Richard was thoughtful and caring. Every six weeks on the dot starting in 1992, Richard donated a pint of blood at Children's Hospital (although he admitted the free parking, t-shirts, and snacks were a draw). His favorite story to tell ended in a night spent in jail with John Kerry after a protest against the Vietnam War in Lexington. The next day, he found his photo on the front page of the Globe.

Richard remained kind-hearted and positive throughout heartache, having suffered the loss of two children and a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. His life ended peacefully on Sunday, September 23, 2018, in the presence and love of his family. He was 81. "And that is the end of the story du jour."

Richard was born November 28, 1936, in Boston, a son of the late Anne (Manning) Beatty and George Beatty. Raised and educated in Newton, he graduated from Newton High School and earned his Bachelor's degree from Northeastern University in Boston in 1960. He worked at McLean Hospital for more than twenty years, first as a counselor for children and later as an administrator.

Richard is predeceased by his children, David Beatty and Caryn Beatty, and his brothers, George and James Beatty.

He leaves his children, Caitlin D. Beatty (Sameer Shah) of Melrose, Meaghan M. Beatty of Brighton, Shannon G. Beatty of Seekonk, Richard Beatty of Santa Barbara, California, Lynda Graham-Helwig (Roland) of Foster City, California, and Ian Beatty of Framingham; his grand-children, Taria, Alila, and Neasa Shah, and Benjamin and Sarah Graham-Helwig; his best friends, Monica and Doug Stuart of Waltham; their son Skyler Stuart; his sisters-in-law, Joyce Beatty of Needham and Marylou Beatty of Tennessee; two brothers-in-law, Sean Driscoll and Greg Fredo of Cambridge; his nieces, Anne Collins (Myles) of Westwood and Joanne Beatty (Alan Bohnert) of Medfield.

Family and friends will honor and remember Richard's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Sunday, September 30th from 4 to 5 p.m., followed by his Life Celebration at 5 p.m. Interment is private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777 (www.michaeljfox.org).