James (Jim) Beacom, a longtime teacher, coach and past resident of Watsonville, passed away April 29, 2017 at Sonora Regional Medical Center near his home in MiWuk Village, CA.
Jim was born September 7, 1930 in McMinnville, OR to Barbara and L.O. “Skeet” Beacom. Jim was a scholar athlete at Gonzales High School and graduated from UC Santa Barbara where he played football, ran track and was a member of Sigma Pi fraternity. He met his wife, Shalene, at Santa Barbara and they married in June of 1952. In 1954, Jim entered the US Army as an Officer in the 2nd Infantry Division stationed in Ft. Benning, GA and Ft. Lewis, WA. In 1958, Jim attended graduate school at UCLA and earned an M.S. in Physical Education.
Jim and Shalene raised their family in Watsonville, where Jim was a teacher, coach and driver training instructor. Jim taught science, coached football, wrestling, and track and field at Watsonville High from 1959-69. Coach Beacom was particularly proud of his 1962 MBL Champion Lightweight Football Team. He liked telling stories of working with the legendary Emmitt Geiser. In 1969, Jim became the first Athletic Director and PE department chair at the new Aptos High School. He coached wrestling, track and cross country at Aptos. There he developed and really enjoyed his Adaptive PE classes. After retirement, Jim and Shalene moved to MiWuk Village to the cabin Jim and his good friend Shevy Schindler built in 1978. In retirement, Jim continued his active ways skiing at Dodge Ridge, daily mile swims at Sonora Sports and Fitness Center, and throwing horseshoes with his pals from Sons In Retirement Twain Harte Branch #172.
Jim leaves his wife of nearly 65 years, Shalene Beacom; brother Ted Beacom of Morro Bay; sons Jamie (Becky) Beacom of Palo Alto; John (Luann “Crunchy”) Beacom of San Diego and daughter Deanne (Dave) Brown of Irving, TX. In 2009, his daughter Denise preceded him in death. He loved his grandchildren and was very proud of Jeanne, Jaime, Jack, Mitchell, Sydney, Chelsea, Joey and Jacob.
The Beacom family would like to thank and recognize the nurses and staff of SRMC for their outstanding care of our loved one. The family requests any donations be made to the MiWuk/Sugar Pine Fire District, 24247 State Highway 108, Twain Harte, CA 95383
Services are currently pending.
