Re: Sad News for FIRST- passing of Dave Beck, team 103
 

My prayers go out to the Beck family and Team 103. Mike helped so many teams andTeam 716 was one of them. Too soon.

Re: Sad News for FIRST- passing of Dave Beck, team 103
 

My thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of Mr. Beck and to all of the Cybersonics.

I never met Mr. Beck, but from all the posts here it is obvious that he will live on through all the Cybersonics past, present, and future as well as through the many others whose lives he touched.

Re: Sad News for FIRST- passing of Dave Beck, team 103
 

FIRST is about inspriation. I can think of no better example of inspiration than Dave. From the first moment I met him many years ago to just a few weeks ago in Philly he was my inspiration.

We have all lost a mentor. To the students of FIRST who some day will become the gracious professionals we hope you will be, consider yourself very lucky to have known Dave Beck.

All of team 272's prayers and condolences go out to Cathy, Cassie and the Cybersonics.


Frank Larkin - Lansdale Catholic Robotics

PS - At LC we sometimes use the expression "I am weeping openly" when we build something cool. It has new meaning today.

Re: Sad News for FIRST- passing of Dave Beck, team 103
 

222 passes along our condolences to the Beck family and the Cybersonics. I'm shocked to think I was just talking to him and joking with him at the Philly regional as we always do. Dave was truly a class act and may he live through all the students and mentors he has influenced. We will miss you Dave

Re: Sad News for FIRST- passing of Dave Beck, team 103
 

This hurts. A lot.

In the NJ/Philly area we are like a family - a bunch of grizzled veteran teams who play with and against each other at event after event. We laugh, we yell at each other, we cry together. You get used to seeing the same faces year after year. To me, there is a comfort in showing up at an event and seeing the Larkins, the Larocks, the Kressleys, the Becks. The game may change, the venue may change, but you always know you're at a Philadelphia-area competition when you see those same smiles that have been there for a decade.

I will remember Dave most for the way he carried himself. If you've ever seen me at an event you know that I'm a fiery competitor, sometimes to a fault. Dave was just as competitive, yet he was always composed and mindful of the true purpose of FIRST. On several occasions he recognized when I was getting frustrated and came over and he would just talk to me. To lighten the mood. Remind me to smile. Remind me that, win or lose, being at a FIRST competition sure beats being at work :D

I could also go on and on about how Dave and Cathy have helped Team 341 over the years, of course. Theirs is a team that we have striven to emulate for a long time.

My deepest sympathies for Cathy, Cassie, and all of Team 103.

Re: Sad News for FIRST- passing of Dave Beck, team 103
 

On behalf of team 191 our thoughts and prayers go out to Dave's family, friends and teammates.
May you find comfort in your time of loss.

Re: Sad News for FIRST- passing of Dave Beck, team 103
 

I heard the news last night, and I haven't stopped crying since.
I don't want to post this, because that means it's really true...but I wanted to share my story and maybe let people who hadn't gotten the honor of meeting him know what a wonderful person Dave Beck really was.

------------
I first met Dave Beck when I was about 7 years old- my family had just moved to NJ and my dad wanted to get acquainted with the area teams. While he was judging at the regional, Cassie and I would run around- and Dave was always keeping an eye out for us. He was really like a second father to me at those events. I carry those memories with me always.

A few years ago, as I was moving up into high school, Dave gave me & my family advice and encouragement for starting 1923. Dave, Cathy, Cassie, and the whole of team 103 has always stood by my team through thick and thin. When we lost all our mentors before our regional last year, and I was just about ready to give up, the Becks helped me pull through the tears and gave me the confidence to know 1923 would live on.

This season, 1923, at Dave's invitation, practiced at the Cybersonics' field every weekend. They graciously hosted us every weekend, and there formed a great camaraderie between the two teams. My teammates no longer referred to them as my friends at 103. They were our friends. Team 103 is a group we have tried to emulate this year- through their passion, their gracious professionalism, and their all-around ability to be wonderful people, which I attribute to their wonderful mentor.

This year has been an outstanding one for my team, and we owe it all to Dave & Team 103.
We count him as a mentor of our own, and we will miss him greatly. This is an incredible loss for the FIRST community.

Dave Beck is one of the most outstanding people I have ever met, and he will live on through all the students he has inspired.
I know that the lessons he has taught me will stay with me all my life.

Team 1923 is proud to have known him, and we carry on his memory. He will never be forgotten.

My deepest condolences to Cathy, Cassie, team 103, and everyone at Palisades. If you need anything -and I mean anything- please don't hesitate to let your friends at 1923 know. We're here for you.

Re: Sad News for FIRST- passing of Dave Beck, team 103
 

Though I did not know Dave, my condolences go to his family and friends and the FIRST community that knew him.

Re: Sad News for FIRST- passing of Dave Beck, team 103
 

This year I was lucky enough to join Team 103 and got to know Mr. Beck.
Dave Beck was the kind of person who would always encourage us and help us in any way he could. I only got one year with Mr. Beck, but what I learned in this year from him I'll carry for a lifetime.
Thank you to everyone for offering so much support. Cybersonics will keep Mr. Beck's memory alive in our hearts. He did so much for us, he was a great mentor, and a fantastic person. We will always remember him.

Thanks to everyone,
Darby
*Memories will be in our hearts, we'll never forget you*

Re: Sad News for FIRST- passing of Dave Beck, team 103
 

Dave, His Family, Team 103, and everyone who knew him will be in Team 79's thoughts and prayers.

Re: Sad News for FIRST- passing of Dave Beck, team 103
 

Oh behalf of Team 303, I offer our condolences.

Re: Sad News for FIRST- passing of Dave Beck, team 103
 

I still have not gathered my thoughts. This just doesn't feel like it could be real... I keep waiting to wake up...

This is a link to Dave Beck's WFFA Announcement at the New Jersey Regionalin 2004.... please take a look. Thank you so much, Kres, for getting this up...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...70586722956249

Re: Sad News for FIRST- passing of Dave Beck, team 103
 

They were such amazing team down in Florida, and that must have to do with thier lead mentor. I am sad never took time out to meet him, even though I wanted too. Our prayers are with his family and the team.

Re: Sad News for FIRST- passing of Dave Beck, team 103
 

I had the chance to work very closely with Mr. Beck on more than one occasion. He was a great person to be around, he knew just about everybody and he could make anyone laugh, no matter how rough your day was going. Mr. Beck did a huge personal favor for me back in 2006, and I every day I am thankful he helped me out of a tight spot.

He is greatly missed.

Re: Sad News for FIRST- passing of Dave Beck, team 103
 

$@#$@#$@#$@#. It's so unfair.

I first met Dave while they were a beta-test team just a few months ago, and you couldn't have asked for a more knowledgeable and forthcoming person - who was smart enough to hand it over to the kids for everything.

I'm at a loss for words. My deepest condolences to the Beck family and everyone else.

Don Rotolo