Richard Beach

Richard ‘Rocky' Winchester Beach, 68, whose wit, wisdom and charm made him an advisor to CEO's, tennis partner to celebrities, and friend to all who knew him, died unexpectedly early Monday, April 18, 2011, at home.Rocky will be remembered as a raconteur, who always had a joke on his lips and a smile on his face, a caring friend and above all a devoted husband to Jill (Steininger), his wife of nearly 35 years. Together he and Jill enjoyed traveling around the world but were always happiest returning to their adopted home of New Buffalo, MI and beloved dog Pebble. Rocky was blessed with an engaging and infectious sense of humor and enjoyed his life to the fullest.Born in Grosse Pointe, MI to Dr. George and Virginia (Press) Beach, Rocky was raised in Flossmoor, IL, where he graduated from high school. After completing his undergraduate work at the University of Arizona, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving as a first lieutenant in the Viet Nam War. Rocky later graduated from the University of Chicago after completing the MBA program at the Booth School of Business and started Beach Consulting, providing communications advice and expertise to multinational corporations. He and Jill spent most of their careers in Chicago, moving to New Buffaloin 2000.In addition to his professional skills, Rocky was a tremendous athlete. As a student in Arizona, he was often called to play tennis with celebrities visiting the Tucson area. He enjoyed playing golf and was generous in his encouragement of the many friends who found the game more challenging than he did. Rocky was a member of the Chikaming Country Club and a former president of the Dunes Club in New Buffalo.In addition to his wife, Rocky is survived by two sisters, Sandra (Bud) Bonner of Kerrville, TX, and Cricket (Clifford) Kass of CA; a sister-in-law Jan Strand of Grand Rapids, MI; many nieces and nephews; David Strand (Dr. Elizabeth Hausler) of Denver, CO; Dr Julie Strand of Boston, MA; Timothy Strand (Renee VanderWeele) of Portland, OR; Douglas Dukes of New York City, NY; and Kimberly (Thom) Everett of Austin, TX. He will be greatly missed by his family and business associates.Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 20, from 4:00-7:00PM(EST), at the Sommerfeld Chapel, 15 N. Barton St., New Buffalo, MI 49117 (269-469-2233). A memorial service celebrating Rocky's life will be held on Thursday, April 21, 11:00AM(CST) at the University of Chicago campus, Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, 5850 S. Woodlawn, Chicago, IL 60637. Memorial contributions in Rocky's memory can be given to the Dave Hettinga Evans Scholar Fund, Western Golf Assn., One Briar Road, Golf, IL 60029. Friends wishing to leave a message of condolence may do so at www.sommerfeldchapel.com