During my mid-teens when I was attending middle-school at La Jolla Country Day, I became friends with Frank Beacham, who was in my class at LJCDS. He didn’t live too far from my residence on Viking Way in La Jolla. It was also during those days when I depended on "getting around" with my bike that my dad and mom gave me for Christmas. This made it relatively easy to visit friends around town.

It was also during those days when Frank and I mutually enjoyed listening to music. Other than the radio, it was common back then to listen to music on vinyl record players. It was a lot of fun getting a record to listen to. About 3+ years later during the summer, I worked as a record salesman for the Arcade Record Store in La Jolla.

Frank was fortunate during those days to live close to the beach. Frank, like me, got a kick out of going to the beach to board surf. His mother owned a home that was only a block or two east from the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, which made it easy for him to enjoy his surroundings.

Unfortunately during those later years in high school, I didn’t see Frank anymore because he no longer was a fellow student at my high school. Several years later, during my college years at Linfield College (in Oregon), I remember the time when I was between semesters visiting my home town when I saw Frank again. He was working then at Chuck’s steak house, a well-known restaurant in La Jolla.

It was years later when I would again see Frank. By then, Frank was still living in La Jolla but in a room that was rented out to him near Virginia Way. Even though that community was quite pricey, Frank really enjoyed living near the beach in La Jolla.

I got a chance (after retirement from my banking and lending career) to talk and see Frank a number of times during the past few years. According to his brother, Louis, Frank enjoyed ocean swimming along the beach near Marine Street in La Jolla. Another former LJCDS student from those early days (Don Booth) recently told me he also enjoyed exercising and working out at his home with Frank during the last year.

Since Frank no longer lived in his one-room rental in La Jolla, I had no idea what happened to him. I called his brother recently and asked him. "Where is your brother?" Sadly, Louis informed me that his older brother died "last month." From what I understand, Louis and his family already had a memorial for Frank. So accordingly, I will also salute my old friend: Here’s to you, Frank Beacham!