On October 10th, 1933, during the Great Depression,
David Beatty was born at home in a back road farm house with no
running water or electricity in Ingham County, Michigan. Growing up,
he attended a one-room school house. He participated in the Future
Farmers of America and 4-H Club, where he won a public speaking
contest for the State of Michigan and other similar awards. This
inspired him to continue his education, eventually earning a Ph.D. in
History of International Relations from Michigan State University.
David came to Canada during the
Vietnam War in 1966 to join Mount Allison University's History
Department where he specialized in diplomacy between the country of
his birth and the country into which he was adopted. He served as
Departmental Head, Director of American Studies, and Co-Director of
International Studies. Additionally, he authored several books: The
Vimy Pilgrimage, July 1936, From the Diary of Florence Murdock,
Amherst, Nova Scotia; Memories of the Forgotten War: The World War I
Diary of Pte. V.E.Goodwin ; and The World War I Diaries and Letters of
Lieut. Stanley Edgett (co-edited by Dr. Tom Edgett). For several
years, he was a leading figure in the university's high school
visitation program and an enthusiastic counselor to prospective
students. He was perhaps best known as a passionate teacher who was
generous with his time and advice. He showed dedication to the
development of his students not only as intellectuals and scholars but
also as individuals and citizens. Mount Allison awarded him the
Herbert & Leota Tucker award for Excellence in Teaching in
1989. He taught for over three decades until his appointment as
Professor Emeritus of History in 2000.
David's
love of history and teaching was matched by his enthusiasm for
football. An avid supporter of the Mount Allison varsity football
team, he could reliably be found on fall weekends near the athletic
field cheering on his beloved Mounties. He was appointed Honorary
President of the Fifth Quarter Club. In his final years, when no
longer able to attend games, he loyally followed his favourite team on
television with great pleasure.
Sheila
Blagrave, editor of the Mount Allison Record, said of David Beatty,
"He was a gentleman farmer and something of a backroom
politician". He was also a popular orator and storyteller who
featured occasionally on radio and television and was known locally
for his annual Remembrance Day speeches. Although not
destined to be a farmer by profession, he nonetheless continued to
cultivate his rural roots. David was deeply fond of the small
community of Baie Verte, New Brunswick, which he called home for about
two decades. For many years, between Convocation and Commencement, he
moved his family to Parkbeg Farm, in Murray Corner, New Brunswick,
where he zealously planted vegetables and raised livestock to fill the
freezer with food for the long winters. When not tending to his
prolific gardens, he could often be found distributing the
overabundance among friends, neighbours, and passers-by. David was
also an outdoorsman and athlete, instilling in his children a love for
camping, hiking, running, canoeing, and campfire building.
David passed away on August 2nd, 2015, after a
lengthy illness. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Mary Jean
(Bissell) Beatty, and three children: Daman Beatty (Fatima) of
Vancouver, BC; Margaret Priemer, of Sackville, NB, and David Beatty
Jr., of Michigan. He is also survived by two brothers, Thomas and Hal
Beatty, of Michigan; three grandchildren: Catherine and Oliver
Priemer, of Sackville, NB, and Jason Beatty, of Michigan; four
great-grandchildren: Brayden, Gage, Brynn, and Pierce Beatty, of
Michigan; and extended family.
A celebration of David's life will take place on Saturday, August 15th, at 2:00 p.m., and has been moved to Mount Allison University Chapel, Sackville, New Brunswick.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in David's name to Mount Allison University's Fifth Quarter Club, Tantramar Heritage Trust, Open Sky Co-Operative, or a charity of one's own choice.
Arrangements are being cared for by Jones Funeral Home, 70 Bridge St., Sackville, NB (506-364-1300) where condolences may be sent to the family by visiting David's online memorial at www.jonesfuneralhome.ca.