Warren I. Beckwith, Jr. ’68 died on May 17, 2025, in Wakefield, Rhode Island.
(The following was provided by the Avery-Storti Funeral Home and Crematory on May 23, 2025:)
Warren I. Beckwith, Jr. ’68
Warren I. Beckwith, Jr. (79) died on May 17, 2025, at home, cared for by his loving wife.
Warren was born in Orange, New Jersey, to Warren I. Beckwith and Alice Ames. His fondest childhood memories included his time in the Boy Scouts and visiting his Uncle Cliff at work on the railroad – an experience that sparked a lifelong interest in trains. That interest remained a steady thread throughout his life, expressed through photography, model railroading, and travel to the forty-eight contiguous states.
Warren graduated from Glen Ridge High School in 1964 and went on to attend Bowdoin College (Class of 1968), where he majored in Government and made lifelong friends. While at Bowdoin, he dated Barbara Lothrop. They married a week after graduation. The couple moved to Wisconsin, where Warren worked for the Chicago & North Western Railroad while also earning a master’s degree in U.S. History from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Warren spent many years teaching middle school in Stoughton, WI. A longtime computer enthusiast, he later returned to UW–Madison for a second master’s degree, this time in Management Information Systems. This led to a career at MetLife – a job that aligned well with his strengths. Eventually, the family relocated to Rhode Island, where he and Barbara have lived for over thirty years.
Warren’s life was shaped by his love of varied pursuits. He was an avid reader of many genres, a dedicated photographer, and a lifelong walker who found solace and rejuvenation in nature. He also became a fan of microbreweries and often planned road trips around train chasing and stops at small brewpubs. The refrigerator was always stocked with a wide selection of microbrews, which he enthusiastically shared with visitors.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-six years, Barbara; two daughters: Laura Beckwith (Jens Ellebæk) of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Melissa Jarvis of McLean, Virginia. He also leaves behind five grandchildren: Casper (9), Daniel (6), Emily (19), Jane (15), and Susannah (9); his brother, Eric, and sister-in-law, Joan; and his step-siblings Carol (Brisse) Martin, Pam (Brisse) Joswick, and Eugene Brisse.