Obituary of Peter Nielsen Beckett

Peter Nielsen Beckett was born September 3rd, 1927 in Portland, Oregon to Roy John Beckett and Edna Nielsen Beckett. In 1940 he moved to Oakland, CA and graduated from Piedmont High School where he was an outstanding athlete and was awarded the trophy for "Best All-Around Athlete-1945." Peter graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1949 and sailed as a deck officer for a number of years. During the Korean War (1952-1954) he served as an officer in the Navy. He remained in the Naval Reserve for 26 years, retiring as a Commander in 1971. Peter married Lucile Mooney in New York, NY in 1953. Lucile passed away in 1983. In 1985, Peter remarried, exchanging vows with Ellen Dietsche in Portland, OR. Peter worked most of his life in the Maritime industry, including time spent working with Matson Navigation Co. and with Jones Washington Stevedoring. He joined Jones Oregon Stevedoring as President in 1976, and was later Chairman of the Board until his retirement in 1992. Peter also served as Director of the Pacific Maritime Association and as President of the Pacific Rim Trade Association. While in Seattle he was President of the Japan-America Society of Washington, and later served as Director Emeritus of the Japan-America Society of Oregon. From 1972 to 1974 he was Northwest Vice President of the United States Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association, receiving the USMMA Alumni Plaque for Meritorious Service in 1964 and for Outstanding Professional Achievement in 1989. From 1981 to 1986 Peter served on the Maritime Advisory Commission under Oregon governor Victor F. Atiyeh. Peter was also a member of the Oswego Lake Country Club, Rotary Club of Portland, Our Lady of the Lake Parish, and was a former member of the University Club. Peter enjoyed traveling to many countries, as a Cadet, as a Deck Officer on board Merchant Ships, as a Navigator on the USS Calvert (APA-32) in the Pacific, and later on cruises. He and Ellen have sailed on more than 60 cruises. The whole family got to share their passion for travel by getting to join them in 2000 on a cruise to Mexico, in 2005 to Alaska, and through the Panama Canal in 2010. Peter is survived by his wife Ellen, his sons Peter James, Christopher Mills, stepson Thomas Dietsche, and by his daughters Virginia Holmes and Constance McLenaghan. He is further survived by fourteen grandchildren, and one great grand child. He was especially proud of all of them as that was all he talked about other than USMMA! Peter would like in lieu of flowers for remembrances to be made to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Foundation in Kings Point, NY. This can be done online at: www.usmmaaf.com, by telephone: 516-482-5274, or mail to: USMMA Alumni Foundation; Babson Center, 300 Steamboat Road, Kings Point, NY 11024. Service will be held, Saturday 10/15/2011 at 9:30am at Our Lady of the Lake located at: 650 SW A Avenue, Lake Oswego, OR 97034, (503) 636-7687 Reception will be held, Sunday 10/16/2011 from 12:00-2:00pm at The Oswego Lake Country Club located at: 20 Iron Mountain Blvd., Lake Oswego, OR 97034, (503) 636-3631