Ruth Ann Beck

BECK. It is with profound grief that we announce the gentle passing of Ruth Ann Beck just before dawn on the morning of Thursday, May 7, 2015. Ruth was a longtime educator in the state of Virginia. She began her teaching career at Longwood College and then joined the faculty of the Biology Department at the College of William & Mary in 1969. She was a graduate of Radford College and obtained a master's degree from UVA in 1966. She was a committed researcher in the field of ornithology and a leader in efforts to understand waterbird population dynamics in the Chesapeake Bay region. She was the author/co-author of over 30 research articles and book chapters. In 1980, she earned her private pilot's license to expand her research capabilities. In 1991, the U.S. Department of the Interior awarded her the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Commanders Award for Public Service. That same year, the Governor of Virginia awarded her a certificate of recognition for her wildlife conservation efforts. She contributed to eight television documentaries on avian wildlife and in addition, her Siamese cat became the star of a memorable National Geographic program, "The Secret Life of Cats." For nearly four decades, Ruth was a highly visible presence in the Department of Biology at William & Mary, where some 32,000 students have passed through her introductory laboratory classes. Her enthusiasm and talents brought the natural world of microorganisms, plants, animals and especially birds to life. She had been a dedicated mentor (and friend) to literally hundreds of individual students. She was predeceased by her parents, Lillian Mary Androvich and Michael Paul Androvich of Highland Springs, Va. She is survived by her husband, Sherwin Beck; her son, Michael Beck; her daughter-in-law, Ann Drewing Beck; her grandson, Aiden Beck; and a large, extended family in Pennsylvania and Virginia. .