‘Sandy’ Beach Dies at 94; Was in U.S. Coast Guard
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Benjamin “Sandy” Beach
Benjamin “Sandy” Beach, a resident for 26 years, died Sept. 25, 2024, in Sitka at the age of 94.
He was born February 27, 1930, in Sharptown, Maryland, the son of Benjamin S. and Iris Legrande Beach. He lived his first 10 years on the family farm, where he developed a good work ethic early on. The family next moved to Wilmington, Delaware.
When he was 17 Sandy enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and spent the next 10 years as a telephone technician along the Northeast and the Great Lakes. With encouragement from his superiors, he completed his GED and went to Officer Candidate School.
After a shipboard assignment/deployment, Sandy went to Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Florida. As a pilot he had numerous assignments on both coasts and on the Great Lakes, flying the Grumman Albatross first, then moving on to other fixed and rotor wing aircraft. As he became more senior, administrative jobs took him to Cleveland, Ohio, and then back to Kodiak, Alaska. His favorite and crowning assignment was as the commanding officer at the USCG Support Center Kodiak.
On January 31, 1985, Sandy married Barbara Bursaw in Traverse City, Michigan.
After 35 years of dedicated service, Sandy retired as a captain and moved in support of his wife’s career. When she retired in Sitka, they settled here.
Sandy loved life and he loved people. His love of the outdoors, of fishing, hunting, and hiking brought him to Alaska at first and then prompted him to return.
Sandy enjoyed reading, history and current events, and was a member of the Sitka Elks Lodge 1662.
He was always able to paint a picture with every story he told. It was a gift and he will be greatly missed.
Sandy leaves behind his wife, Barbara, of 40 years; daughter Sandra Beach (Phil Cunnings) of San Carlos, California; son Cary Beach (Pam Champney) of San Bruno, California; grandson Nicholas Soloschenko (Kristen Gottula) of San Carlos; a sister, Nancy Hazen, of New Castle, Delaware; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation to a favorite charity be considered.
A celebration of Sandy’s life will be scheduled at a future date.
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20 YEARS AGO
November 2004
Street Names, by Bob DeArmond: Furuhelm Street, just east of Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School, from Kimsham to Kashevaroff streets, was named, with modified spelling, for the 13th and next to last chief manager of the Russian American Company. He is one of the four chief managers for whom Sitka streets have been named.
50 YEARS AGO
November 1974
Arrowhead Lions will put on a dance Saturday for funds to buy Universal Gym Equipment for Sitka High gym classes. Lions Club President Roger Howard will donate his band, “The Tequila Sunrise,” for starting of the fund raising. The equipments costs an estimated $4,000.
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