Sharon Skarlis Beckwith

(5): 3 boys, 2 girls

We got the Roosevelt grade school group back together for a KODAK moment at our 50th reunion. That was a HOOT.

Live to be 100

Feb 2014 Mother celebrated her 95th birthday and my cat turned 3. After 2+ years of being widowed, I am ready to move forward. Possibilities are endless.

2013 was a blur. My mother and brother moved from Mason City to live here in Florida. Their house is 2 miles from mine. I'm teaching him how to cook, clean house, and helping him to take care of Mother who has early signs of dimentia.

4/28/12 I'm giving myself an early birthday present. I am adopting a retired show cat -- a shaded silver Persian from California, 15 months old. She doesn't like men or dogs and is a lap/bed cat. It sounds like a perfect fit to me.

3/11/12 -- I'm doing okay; music has become my salvation. Keeping busy with rehearsals and performances. Planning to play in July with National Community Band in New Orleans at Loyola. My band family has been a blessing. But Life alone sucks.

11/3/11 update: Gordon lost his battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He will be buried in Arlington Nat'l Cemetery on 2/2/12.

It is with the deepest sorrow I must announce Gordon's death, my husband of 37 years, at 11:40 pm (eastern) Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease). He was 70. Arrangements will be made by Hooper Funeral Home of Beverly Hills FL and the US Navy for services at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors at a later date. Fair winds and a following sea Chief Beckwith.

4/10/11 update: The ALS support group says I need to get out of the house more often. I play alto & soprano sax in 2 community bands and I also play in a sax trio & a sax quartet. In May the quartet is playing a 5 minute version of Beethoven's Sixth at our Masters Concert and in July I'll be playing Sammy Nestico's "Persuasion" as a feature soloist at our American Composers Concert in July. Cannot do much more else I'll lose my sanity !!!!!

12/15/10 update: Gordon's heart attack on 9/4 was actually congestive heart failure and the beginning of 23 days of CCU and 27 days in a Life Care facility. He's home now with a confirmed diagnosis from Mayo Clinic for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease). This is a fatal, progressive, degenerative muscle disease; no known cure, few options, one approved drug. He's got a great attitude and will fight to his last breath. Please keep him in your prayers.

9/20/10 update: Husband had a heart attack on 9/4 and has double pneumonia. He's been in the Critical Care Unit of the hospital now for 16 days. He needs your prayers.
Sharon Beckwith

[Married to a career USN musician at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. Spent 38 years in Maryland in Government Service as a Civil Servant in DoD and NASA; retired in 2003. Resettled in Florida for our golden years. Both play in an Ocala community band, a Citrus County/Nature Coast Community Band, and an Orlando All-Florida Community Band. Have been elected (and re-elected)to the Board of Directors of our Property Owners Association where I chair the Architectural Control Board. Am also fighting old-age spread (and not winning). Our hobby together is traveling and cruising while in good health.]

Now that I am playing the alto sax again, I remember all the fun we had in band (Stan Davis in grade school; Henry Paine in Jr. High; Paul Behm in High School) -- the trips, the solo contests, the rehearsals with Meredith Willson, the practicing in those sound-proof booths in the Music Hall, all the marching practices on the football field at Roosevelt Field House. Music has always been a big part of my life and I'm so excited to be playing again.

Evia, Greece where I discovered my grandfather's homeland and 2 uncles and an English-speaking cousin !!!

I play tenor, alto & soprano sax; I read, grow orchids & hoyas, learn new computer technology, quilt, play the piano, photograph nature, knit, crochet, needlepoint (always on the move).

the serenity of my home is my sanctuary

Add Your Answer Here Renewing friendships from the old neighborhood; hoping to classmates who play an instrument to play together!!!!!