William Ernest Beebe

William (Bill) Ernest Beebe of Blue Point, New York, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, at the age of 71 on June 9th. Known to so many, in so many different contexts, his love for celebrating the simple joys of life was clear to everyone he knew.

A life filtered through the lens of creativity and curiosity, he brought his passion for music, art, and learning to all of his pursuits. An accomplished songwriter and musician, he was one half of the songwriting duo, Beebe & Cavanaugh. With a song catalog that spans decades, their tongue-in-cheek, witty, and irreverent songs pointed to cultural truths, asking us to take ourselves less seriously while thinking more deeply. A drumming man to his core, he was able to play any instrument he could get his hands on. In his younger days, as a member of Speekeasy, he played and recorded with the New York Philharmonic.

Most important to Bill was family. Opa to Anthony, August, Madeleine, Noah, and Charlotte, he was always patient, up for mischief, and ready with a special treat or interesting factoid to share. If his children were the meat and potatoes of his life, his grandchildren, he said, were his ‘favorite dessert’.

A fantastic cook in later life, he honed his skills making nightly dinners for the family. Ever the experimenter and keen to test out new ideas, the Beebe kids, Emily (Chris), Elisabeth (Rich), Benjamin, and Katy, weathered his “Garlic in Everything” phase and the Bowtie, Spinach & Olive Oil Massacre of ‘88. Once his technique was developed, Russian Spaghetti and Dad’s Famous Mashed Potatoes became family favorites forever.

A man of deep faith and openness to the unknown, Bill was a parishioner at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Patchogue, where he was part of the community and worked in fellowship to foster a culture of support and inclusion. Often surrounded by great friends, spending afternoons day drinking on the deck or checking out the newest of the new restaurants around town, there was no moment too small to be thought of as special. Whether getting everyone to wear funny hats and eat pancakes and ice cream on Shrove Tuesday, captivating an audience with his telling of “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” or playing the piano til’ the wee hours, the joyful memories he created with family and friends are his enduring legacy

In lieu of flowers, donations in William's memory may be made to: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 27 Rider Avenue Patchogue, New York 11772.