06/20/2017
A message from Acting President Marisa Kelly on the passing of faculty member Richard Beinecke (June 19, 2017):
Dear Members of the Suffolk Community,
It is with great sadness that I must share the news that Richard Beinecke, a beloved member of the Sawyer Business School faculty and of our Suffolk family, passed away suddenly today. On behalf of the University, I want to express my deepest condolences to all who knew and loved him, and there are so many. At this sad moment, our hearts are with Rick's family, his friends, his colleagues, his students, and all those whose lives he has touched.
I can't imagine anyone more dedicated to an institution than Rick was to Suffolk. He was passionate about this University. In 1993 Rick joined the Sawyer Business School, where he taught in both the public administration and healthcare administration programs, drawing on extensive public- and private-sector experience. He had served in clinical management positions in several community health centers, worked on mental health legislation for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, developed mental health facilities for private-sector firms around the country, and made many other contributions to that field.
Rick was exceptionally kind, and he had an amazing knack for bringing people together. He was a trained clinician, which no doubt shaped his ability to listen, to understand, and to make sure everyone was heard. His research on the mental health impacts of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing captured the voices of the often unrecognized people who continue to struggle with the impacts of that tragic event.
Rick recently became chair of the Faculty Senate and believed in the power of leadership and the importance of bringing all voices into the process. He was exceptionally positive, and his first question was often "How can I help?"
And his students loved him. Rick was valued and appreciated for his teaching, for his listening, and for his genuine care as he guided so many young people on a course to success.
Outside of the University, Rick was an avid biker, birder, and fisherman. He led kayak trips on the Mystic, Concord, Assabet, and Sudbury rivers, including with his students, and his interest in history and the outdoors resulted in his authoring The Mystic River: A Natural and Human History and Recreation Guide.
His passing leaves a deep void for this University, and we will miss him greatly.
We will relay information about funeral arrangements when it becomes available.
Sincerely,
Marisa Kelly
Acting President