"I had Dr. Beck as my calculus instructor in 1997. I will always remember his wit and the intellectual power and joy he brought to the work of teaching. I had the good fortune to speak with him in the summer of 2013, and while the years had aged his body, and he did not remember me (one of hundreds, of course), his grace continued to impress me. Thank you for educating me."
In loving memory of
Anatole Beck
March 19, 1930 - December 21, 2014
Madison: Anatole Beck, age 84, beloved father, husband, grandfather, brother and uncle, mathematician, and educator went unwillingly to explore infinity in the early morning of December 21, 2014. Anatole was born the son of Morris and Minnie (Rosenblum) Beck in New York on March 19, 1930. He received his BA from Brooklyn College, and Masters and PhD from Yale University. His 52 year teaching career included Chair of Mathematics at London School of Economics, visiting professor at Cornell University, Hebrew University, Gottingen University, University of London, University of Warwick, Imperial College, Williams University, London School of Economics, University of Erlangen, Republic of Germany, Tulane University, and assistant professor, associate professor, professor of math at the University of Wisconsin. During his time at the University, he was co-founder and served as president of the Wisconsin University Union, and was a long time activist member of University Faculty Senate. Anatole has donated his body to the UW Medical School Foundation, and will continue his legacy as a teacher.
Anatole's brother, Bernard Beck, describes him as "a man of enormous strength and talent and generosity, but life gave him a tremendous burden. He carried that burden and did well by so many people around him. But at a great cost. What we see now is the response of a boy who had to shoulder the responsibility of a man. It wasn't just hard circumstances, it was also the need to care for a frightened, sad mother and a frightened, helpless brother. He did it and allowed us to thrive and do our best. But he is never off-duty and he always has to cope on his own, because no one else is strong or smart enough to do what must be done. He insists on dealing with things himself; he always had to."
Anatole's son, Micah, viewed his father as a Polymath; a teacher, researcher, author, inventor, social commentator, city planner, environmentalist, and architectural designer. He was always expanding his horizons; biking, cross country skiing, hiking, and piloting. He said his father always wanted everyone to be aware that we are all part of a larger world.
Nina, Anatole's daughter, spoke of her father's love of language that was exhibited to her, her partner Stacy, and their son Seth. He was a Linguist, speaking English, Yiddish, Russian, German, Hebrew, French, and Spanish. She said, "My father was an amazing man who taught me so much about standing up for what you believe in. I am most proud of his political activity, and impressed with his generosity and kindness towards people in need."
Anatole is survived by his wife, Eve Siegel Beck; daughter, Nina (Stacy Jolles) Beck; son, Micah (Rebecca) Beck; brother, Bernard Beck; step-daughters, Amy (Matthew Hallaron) Novick, Pam (Prathivadi RJ) Novick; grandchildren, Sam (Louise) Beck, Adiara (TJ Cissoko) Wright Beck, Koura Wright, Michelle, Chrissy, and Ian Rukeyser and sibling, Jane, Seth Jolles, Arien and Samantha vanMol, Shira and Ariana Hallaron; and many nieces and nephews. He leaves behind friends and family in London, Germany, Israel, Greece, Michigan, Maryland, Vermont, Virginia, Georgia, California, the Carolinas, New York, and Washington, DC. He was preceded in death by his parents, Minnie and Morris Beck and a grandson, Noah Jolles.
Family will observe Shiva at the family home, 4818 Marathon Dr., Madison, WI 53705 from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm on Monday, December 22, 2014 and Tuesday, December 23, 2014. The family requests you bring a short written memory of Anatole to share with them.
The family thanks Dr. Eugene Musser, Dr. Richard Day, Dr. David Ciske, Dr. Vicken Voorperian, Meriter Hospital staff of 8 Tower, 3 North, Rehab Program, Pacer Clinic, Wellness Center, and the Cardiac and Stroke Survivor Groups, Mallatts Pharmacy, and Agrace HospiceCare. Your dedication, care, and support was appreciated.
Contributions in Memory of Anatole Beck are suggested to the following:
Human Rights Campaign, www.hrc.org/donate; University of Tennessee College of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 120 Perkins Hall, 1506 Middle Dr., Knoxville TN 37996-2012; Beit Olamim Madison Jewish Cemetery or Jewish Social Services of Madison, c/o Jewish Federation 6434 Enterprise Lane, Madison, WI 53719; UW Math Dept. Talent Search Scholarship, mail to: US Bank Lock Box, Box 78807, Milwaukee WI 53278-0807, (notate on check; Talent Search Funds, In Memory of Anatole Beck), or online to "Department of Mathematics Annual Fund 1255920 for the Support of Talent Search" http://www.math.wisc.edu/donate, WORT Radio, Madison, or Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 E. Cheryl Pkwy. Fitchburg, WI 53711.
Please share a memory of Anatole at www.CressFuneralService.com
DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT
Dylan Thomas --
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Cress Funeral Home
3610 Speedway Rd
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 238-3434
Tributes
"Although I did not know you as well Anatole, I know you made my best friend happy for many years.
Eve, may your fond memories bring you comfort
. Love You
"
"I remember the wonderful conversations I had with Anatole at a medical support group. Was always very impressed with Anatole's intelligence, problem solving skills he used to help people to reduce their suffering. The world is a better place because of the life work of Dr. Anatole Beck!"
"Thank you, Anatole, for making me think, and think again, about the power of every word we speak and write. So very fondly, I remember your twinkling eyes, smile and laugh. "
"As a miserable adolescent, recently arrived in Madison from Brooklyn, I valued the presence of Anatole and his family, friends of my parents but a generation in -between them and me. They were from New York, like us, they were Jewish, our kind of Jews, and they had our kind of politics! To say I valued them is an understatement: they were crucial to my well-being as I struggled with a confused identity. When I returned to Madison as an adult, Anatole was my colleague at the university and in the faculty/staff union. He provided years of friendship and support to my family, especially to my mother after my father passed away. I am grateful for his many years of happiness later in life with Eve. I remember Nina and Micah with affection and wish them the best."
"I will always remember our rambling through the countryside of England. Thank you Anatole for being Eve's love and loving her all these years."
"We will write more about our dear friend, Anatole, later, but now, I would like to note that we just reached my son, Jonathan, at JFK just before his fight to Hong Kong. He wishes us to convey that Anatole was a pivotal influence in his life at a crucial moment. Anatole, not only was an important teacher for Jonathan at UW while Jonathan was in high school, but also facilitated Jonathan's admission to Yale University via Anatole's recommendation to the mathematics department there. Our entire family is indebted to Anatole. Rest in peace dear friend. "
"Eve, Thinking of you. Condolences from Bob Schwartz and Family."
"I worked with Dr. Day and knew Anatole many years he was a thoughtful intelligent man who could converse on any subject and would research things out until he was satisfied with the answer."
"IN MEMORY OF ANATOLE BECK
March 13, 1930 - December 21, 2014
In the rising of the sun and in its going down, we remember him.
In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember him.
In the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring, we remember him.
In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer, we remember him.
In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn, we remember him.
In the beginning of the year and when it ends, we remember him.
When we are weary and in need of strength, we remember him.
When we are lost and sick at heart, we remember him.
When we have joys we yearn to share, we remember him.
So long as we live, he too shall live, for he is now a part of us,
as we remember him.
(Jack Riemer and Sylvan D. Kamens -Kol Haneshema)
(Cape Cod - 2007 - Photograph by AMS)
To his beloved wife Eve, and to Nina, Micah, Sam & Seth,
and all those who loved and respected our dearest friend Anatole:
He was a wonderful polymath who thought about everything
and brought his unique and brilliant way of thinking
to the problems of the world as well as the world of mathematics.
He challenged us all to think again and again about our actions and beliefs,
thus adding to our knowledge and improving the way we thought and acted.
As teacher, mentor, and friend he courageously and ethically
fought for the rights of the individual to speak out and be heard.
He cared about the past, the present, and the future - of all of us.
We are fortunate to have known him, shared his life, and traveled many parts of the world with him.
We will always deeply miss our friend, our brother, our caring companion for more than 60 years.
Harriet and Alvin Saperstein Detroit, Michigan
"