Remembering a great man

By Bo Ford

Some may remember him as a public servant, as a leader in sports, but most of all he will be greatly remembered as a loving son, brother, father and husband.

The funeral for the late Rory Beck was held this morning at the Central Christian Church, more then 500 people took in the service to remember a P.E.I legend.

The service touched on all the tremendous work Beck had done during his time spent on this earth as a public servant, in sports, but most of all as a loving family man.

Beck was the father of three sports oriented boys, Luke, Jacob and Dylan. He was the brother of four, Angus, Gordie, Callum and Norman, the son of Shirley and the late Dr. Malcom Beck, But more then anything a loving husband to his wife Gaylene.

Beck has left a giant footprint on the Island, in all characteristics in his life. His brother Angus read a poem about his family, it touched on all aspects of his family life, but during this time, he stressed Rory was the most like his father out of all five boys.

Longtime friend Kevin Murphy had lots of good things to say about Beck, as he put it, how couldn’t he, everybody who knew Rory, knew how great of a man he was. Murphy credited hockey for being the main reason the two friends were so close.

Beck, was well known in the hockey circle first as a player with the Charlottetown Islanders when they won the Hardy Cup in 1981, from there Beck would go on to become a UPEI Panther and then later in life become president of the Charlottetown Jr. A Abbies. Beck loved to coach and teach young people, not only into loving the game and becoming great players but also into young gentlemen.

His nephew, Rory spoke about how his uncle could talk for days and how he would always have the inside scoop on things. He was like a bicycle tube, all the spokes connected to him said nephew Rory.

Beck was known as the premier’s right hand man over the past couple of years. Robert Ghiz was on hand and shared a gospel reading during the funeral.

Beck’s pallbearers were some of his closest friends during his lifetime, Matt Bolger, Mac Giffin, Terry McKenna, Kevin Murphy, Brian Ostroski and Jeff Squires.

To show just how much Beck did for the people who knew him, the family made each and every person in attendance of the funeral consider themselves as honorary pallbearers for him.

The services ended with a song Beck had admired dearly. Those in attendance exited the church to Rise Up.

It is safe to say Rory left a mark on a lot of peoples lives, not only his family, but their friends, his friends and everyone on P.E.I.