James Beeman Obituary

SAN DIEGO - James J. Beeman, 90, of San Diego passed away peacefully Feb. 12, 2025, with his family at his side.
He was born Aug. 27, 1934, to James Jay and Florence Beeman in Bradford, Pa. He attended St. Bernard High School where he excelled both academically and athletically, lettering in basketball and football. After attending Tri-State University in 1954 where he studied engineering, he served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1956. He then returned to St. Bonaventure University to continue his studies, earning a degree in business administration. Although his professional career began in operations and engineering, it wasn't long before he realized his true passion in international sales and marketing. First with Union Carbide Corp. and later with Getz Bros. Inc., he assumed executive leadership roles with worldwide responsibility and traveled extensively - particularly to Asia, Australia and Europe, in a career that spanned 40 years.
He married Kathleen Healy in 1958 and after relocating their growing family numerous times, arrived on the west coast in 1963, first in the Long Beach/Seal Beach area and finally in Rancho Bernardo, where they raised sons Jim and Dan and daughter Susan.
Upon moving to Rancho Bernardo, Jim was actively involved in the founding of the RB Little League in 1969, serving as the league's first president. Jim and a small group of newfound friends begged, borrowed and negotiated for the land, material, equipment and utilities required to build the baseball fields at the Swim & Tennis Club, Westwood Club and Hewlett Packard site in the Rancho Bernardo industrial park. As a testament to his legacy, these fields are still in use today where thousands of children and their families have made lifelong memories over the past six decades.
After his retirement he embarked on his "second career" and spent the next 20 years following his grandchildren's club, high school and college softball and soccer careers. During that time, Jim also served on the board of directors for Casa de las Campanas and the RB Swim & Tennis Club and was a supporter of the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation.
He is survived by Kathleen, his wife of 67 years; sons Jim (Masayo) Beeman and Dan (Grace) Beeman; daughter Susan Ponder; four grandchildren, Cayla Beeman, Danielle Beeman, Brittni Yakel and Tyrol James "TJ" Ponder; and two great-grandchildren, Presley and Alexis.
A funeral Mass is planned for noon Monday, March 24, 2025, at San Rafael Catholic Church in Rancho Bernardo with a reception immediately after in the Parish Hall. Final arrangements will be at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego.