Bill Beck, the author of "Fat Addict", in the NA Basic Text, and good friend of Jimmy K, succumbed to liver cancer on 16th Jan '07. He was 71. His clean date was July 9, 1967. He died with 39+ years clean.
Bill started the first NA recovery house, in San Jose, and also was a barber, almost until his passing. He cut Jimmy, and many NA members' hair, and many impromptu meetings took place at his shop.
He died peacefully. Please pass this along. Very few of our original NA pioneers are still with us here.Hugs.
-- Edited by Tahir at 13:43, 2007-01-21
__________________
"If we do an honest examination of exactly what we are giving, we are better able to evaluate the results we are getting."Chapter 10 - Emotional Pain - NA Way of Life.
Bill was quite a charecter, in "early days" it took a lot of "hussle" to open and run a recovery house. I could tell a few colorful "stories" about Bill's behavior in older days but I would not want to imply anthing but love and respect for all the good he did. I remember in a period of "searching" Bill attended an ashram and took on the spiritual name "Alarom"... Well, you know dope fiends, right away everyone started calling him "allaround" ... and it stuck:) God knows how many people were helped as a direct result of Bill opening recovery houses in Southern California. I went to "Impact House" myself, one of the "houses" that he had a direct part in opening. I wish I had a picture of Bill, my mental picture is that of a "very round" guy with white hair and a full beard, often in sandals. It felt good to see him reffered to as a "Pioneer", seems like a respectful and endearing term, one that fits for a man who touched the lives of so many. I remember someone making the mistake of "Badmouthing" Bill in a meeting, passing on some gossip he had heard... Another old friend, Tony Romero (SF Valley)was there and it's a good thing a few of us were there to discourage Tony from smacking this fellow on the spot(Not out of charecter for Tony but that's another story). It seems when Bill was director of Cri_Help, Tony got a job and needed a car.... The "House" was always having cars donated so Bill gave him one. God bless you Bill, and thank you for helping pave the way for me to find my treasured freedom. Don C.
__________________
"...life should NOT be lived with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, red bull in the other, body thoroughly used screaming "WOO WOO what a ride!"
(((((Don C))))) Thank you so much for sharing those special moments from your memories of Bill. Enjoyed reading about them, and was filled with a special joy that I am not able to describe in words... Grateful that we had Bill and continue to have inspiring and passionate members in the midst of us today in NA...
Hugs, Love & Light ~ Tahir.
__________________
"If we do an honest examination of exactly what we are giving, we are better able to evaluate the results we are getting."Chapter 10 - Emotional Pain - NA Way of Life.
