Help Abby and Ben bury their father in Greenwood
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On February 5th, we (Abby and Ben Beatty) lost our father, Steven Jay Beatty. Our father passed away after a decades-long struggle with addiction and mental illness. Like many of the people who suffer this way, our father was a wonderfully deep, endlessly creative, and stunningly original person.
As children, he wrote us poems and songs to tell us of his love. One written for Abby called “Abigail A” had a sweet line for each vowel, the final “O” being “Now and forever, we love you so.” A poem written for Ben, “Two Like You,” empathized with the trials of being a younger sibling.
Beyond his writing, our father had a beautiful singing voice and musical sensibility. He recorded many covers of Bob Dylan and Grateful Dead songs that he played on his guitar. Our father’s gentle soul made him a favorite of children and animals alike. Our friends will remember him chasing after ducks, lizards, snakes, and “crawdads” (crayfish) -- likely letting the kids come closer than other adults would advise. Steve -- with his word play, appetite for mischief, and love for the authenticity of youth -- was always a classroom favorite. And his adoring adult friends saw him quite similarly. Steve could be trusted to bring a refreshing honesty, unrivaled hilarity, and an uncommon capacity for emotional depth.
In earthly matters, however, our father struggled. Especially after his mental health began to decline. When he passed away, he left behind only $150… in coins. (You can laugh.) Because we are so determined to honor him, we are hoping to be supported by our community in covering the expenses of his passing and his burial in his beloved Greenwood cemetery -- where he knew every mausoleum and Civil War general. Our family has already received such a moving outpouring of love, and we continue to be grateful for your memories, generosity, and dedication to helping us celebrate our truly special father.
As children, he wrote us poems and songs to tell us of his love. One written for Abby called “Abigail A” had a sweet line for each vowel, the final “O” being “Now and forever, we love you so.” A poem written for Ben, “Two Like You,” empathized with the trials of being a younger sibling.
Beyond his writing, our father had a beautiful singing voice and musical sensibility. He recorded many covers of Bob Dylan and Grateful Dead songs that he played on his guitar. Our father’s gentle soul made him a favorite of children and animals alike. Our friends will remember him chasing after ducks, lizards, snakes, and “crawdads” (crayfish) -- likely letting the kids come closer than other adults would advise. Steve -- with his word play, appetite for mischief, and love for the authenticity of youth -- was always a classroom favorite. And his adoring adult friends saw him quite similarly. Steve could be trusted to bring a refreshing honesty, unrivaled hilarity, and an uncommon capacity for emotional depth.
In earthly matters, however, our father struggled. Especially after his mental health began to decline. When he passed away, he left behind only $150… in coins. (You can laugh.) Because we are so determined to honor him, we are hoping to be supported by our community in covering the expenses of his passing and his burial in his beloved Greenwood cemetery -- where he knew every mausoleum and Civil War general. Our family has already received such a moving outpouring of love, and we continue to be grateful for your memories, generosity, and dedication to helping us celebrate our truly special father.
Organizer
Abigail Beatty
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY