• Mary Beasom (Collins)

February 23, 2008

Published in the Florida Today, December 23, 2007.

Mary Beasom, beloved wife of Jim Beasom, passed away suddenly Friday, December 14, 2007 at home in Melbourne Village.

Mary was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois on February 17, 1940. She attended BHS her sophomore through senior years. She moved to Melbourne in 1974 where she met Jim and married him in 1985.

Survivors in addition to her husband include sons Thomas Andrew (Francine) Turner, Peter (Joyce) Turner and Jeremy (Laura) Turner and 11 grandchildren.

Mary had many interests. She did graphics arts for several businesses. She started and ran a video business and an antique furniture restoration business. She was also very active in a number of civic and professional groups including Ad Fed, APPA, and Keep Brevard Beautiful.

She served the town of Melbourne Village in many ways. She was a town commissioner for 12 years including six years as vice mayor.

She took on many special assignments for the town. She acted as general contractor for restoration of the community house planning the work and working everyday with volunteers she recruited and with contractors to complete the project on budget. She also acted as general contractor for a drainage project, as supervisor for the public works department and as temporary town clerk treasurer.

A remembrance of her life was held Saturday, February 2, 2008 at the community house in Melbourne Village. Persons wishing to make a donation are asked to donate to greyhound rescue, poodle rescue or airedale rescue in her name.

• Bill Hile

February 1, 2008

Bill has been rediscovered! We have had no information on Bill since the 10th Reunion and some had assumed the worst.

But now, after much diligent sleuthing by Betsy, we learn that Bill is, in fact, alive and well, married and living in Racine, Wisconsin. After High School Bill went to Purdue University and later got his MBA at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Now retired, Bill finished out his career doing Y2K software programming for IBM main frames.

You can contact Bill at: WHile2@msn.com

• Sam Harkness

January 31, 2008

Passionate scientist, patriot, and outdoorsman, Sam Harkness, 67, passed away on December 13, 2007, due to complications associated with multiple myeloma. He proudly continued to live life his way without significant disruption for 14 years since originally being told of his disease.

Dr. Harkness was born in Richmond, Virginia on October 28, 1940. He spent his formative years in the Chicago area before attending Cornell University to study metallurgical engineering. It was there that he met the love of his life, Christine (known to most as Susie) Hotchkiss. Sam and Susie Harkness were wed in Pelham, New York in December 1963.

Later, he was graduated with a Ph.D. in Metallurgy from the University of Florida. Recognized as a pioneer in the fields of material science for nuclear energy applications, Dr. Harkness held several science and leadership roles at Argonne National Laboratory, Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, and Westinghouse Electric Corporation. He was a proud and passionate supporter and enabler of nuclear power and its potential to relieve some of the world's energy crises.

Sam Harkness enjoyed the outdoors and was a frequent visitor with his beloved wife to the Alqonquin National Park and anywhere else wildlife, and, particularly loons could be found. Sam and Susie flourished in doubles tennis and worked together in several youth coaching assignments.

Sam is survived by his mother Jane Harkness, his wife Susie Harkness, three children Sam Harkness IV (Carin), Laura Wolfe (Tyler), and Matt Harkness (Julie), and 8 grandchildren (Hannah, Eryn, Jacob, Iuma, Leah, Zachary, Dillon, and Aziah). He is also survived by his sisters Prudence Wells (Steve) and Ann Novak. Private services were held during the first week of January, 2008. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy at 4301 West Markham, Slot 816, Little Rock, AR 72205. Title the donation 'In Memory of Sam Harkness' and indicate that the funds are to go to 'Research'.

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