Local Journalist Roger Beck Succumbs to Ravages of Age, Per His Self-Written Obituary

“Roger Beck, prominent local journalist and public relations counselor, has died. He was 88 years old. According to his widow, Barbara, Beck succumbed to the ravages of age.” This is per the obituary that Roger Beck had written for himself this past year and, as wife Barbara tells KBHR, he passed away on Tuesday afternoon December 15, at home listening to his favorite music while granddaughter Brittany was reading him the sports page. Beck had been a journalist for The South Bay Daily Breeze and the Associated Press, as well as being on the founding staff of The Los Angeles Mirror. Per his self-written obituary, “In 1990, he went into semi-retirement and relocated to Big Bear City, where he went to work at The Grizzly as a featured writer and columnist. His last job was as a featured writer for the Chino Champion, ending in 2004. After moving to Big Bear City, Roger and his wife, Barbara, were among the first couples to establish the B’nai Big Bear group. While in Big Bear, Roger was appointed to two terms as a commissioner for the local Parks & Rec Board. His passion at that time was to resurface the tennis courts, and that was completed during his term with the assistance of other commissioners.” Funeral services for Beck, who also served on the Old Miners’ Association Board, will be held at Mt. Sinai in Hollywood Hills on Friday, December 18 at 2pm; a memorial service will be held later in Big Bear City. Beck is survived by wife Barbara, a director for the Big Bear City Community Services District, as well as brother Murray, son Mark, daughter Andrea, stepson David, and grandchildren Brittany, Jeorgea, Zachary, Harry, Daniel and John.