Obituary for Arthur Donald Beard
Arthur Donald Beard
1926 - 2022
Father, grandfather, great grandfather, husband, farmhand, athlete, Navy veteran, engineer, inventor, golf champion, company founder, and Olympian, Arthur Donald Beard lived a full and eventful life. Art died at home at the age of 96 in the early morning of May 9, 2022.
Arthur was born to James and Agnes Beard on February 19, 1926 in New York City. The family soon moved to a farm in Old Westbury, Long Island where he spent his childhood. Art attended Roslyn High School distinguishing himself in Varsity football, track and baseball. After high school, Art attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduating in 1947 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a Masters in Physics in ‘49. While at RPI, Art excelled at football, lacrosse, and track and field. and was inducted into RPI’s Hall of Fame. Art played midfield on the lacrosse team, which represented the United States in the lacrosse tour and exhibition event at the 1948 Summer Olympics in England. He was a devoted lifelong member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
In 1949, he joined RCA as one of the first engineers in an advanced development group to investigate computer systems for the purposes of data processing. During his twenty years with RCA, Art worked on various international defense projects, rising quickly to the position of Chief Engineer of the Computer Systems Division. Rather than accepting a transfer to New England in 1970, he co-founded with three other RCA engineers, Formation, a computer hardware design and manufacturing company in Moorestown. Art’s company was a leader in the early development of electronic communications, navigation, and display systems used in aviation. Over the many years it was in business, he steered the company through numerous significant technological advancements such as the development of replacement computer systems for RCA and IBM, 9903 & F4000; computer input/output Systems for RCA users and Siemens AG; disk storage systems for Memorex Telex and Storage Technology; communications interfaces for the FAA; and avionics systems providing in-flight entertainment and WiFi connectivity.
Art is survived by his beloved wife, Carol Beard; three daughters, Wendy (Dennis) Allen, Lisa (Chris) Barry, and Martha (Dave) Casey; nine grandchildren, Diana, and Craig (Andrea) Heppe, Pearce (Danielle) Saye, Christine (Lyn) Formento, Cole and Carson (Amanda) Barry, Kyle, Cory (Natalie), and Jay Casey; and seven great grandchildren, Tyler and Tara Goodearly, Rex and Kira Heppe, Colton Saye, Evan Formento, and Margot Barry. He is also survived by his loving sister-in-law, Elizabeth Dyer, who cared for him in his final months.
Art is predeceased by his brother Donald Beard, his sister Ann McCaul, his former wife Betty Ann Beard, his former wife Joan Beard, and the eldest of his four daughters, Linda Westcott.
Art was an avid golfer and active member of the community for many decades. His passion, calm demeanor, and sharp wit will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
A memorial will be held in early summer.
1926 - 2022
Father, grandfather, great grandfather, husband, farmhand, athlete, Navy veteran, engineer, inventor, golf champion, company founder, and Olympian, Arthur Donald Beard lived a full and eventful life. Art died at home at the age of 96 in the early morning of May 9, 2022.
Arthur was born to James and Agnes Beard on February 19, 1926 in New York City. The family soon moved to a farm in Old Westbury, Long Island where he spent his childhood. Art attended Roslyn High School distinguishing himself in Varsity football, track and baseball. After high school, Art attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduating in 1947 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a Masters in Physics in ‘49. While at RPI, Art excelled at football, lacrosse, and track and field. and was inducted into RPI’s Hall of Fame. Art played midfield on the lacrosse team, which represented the United States in the lacrosse tour and exhibition event at the 1948 Summer Olympics in England. He was a devoted lifelong member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
In 1949, he joined RCA as one of the first engineers in an advanced development group to investigate computer systems for the purposes of data processing. During his twenty years with RCA, Art worked on various international defense projects, rising quickly to the position of Chief Engineer of the Computer Systems Division. Rather than accepting a transfer to New England in 1970, he co-founded with three other RCA engineers, Formation, a computer hardware design and manufacturing company in Moorestown. Art’s company was a leader in the early development of electronic communications, navigation, and display systems used in aviation. Over the many years it was in business, he steered the company through numerous significant technological advancements such as the development of replacement computer systems for RCA and IBM, 9903 & F4000; computer input/output Systems for RCA users and Siemens AG; disk storage systems for Memorex Telex and Storage Technology; communications interfaces for the FAA; and avionics systems providing in-flight entertainment and WiFi connectivity.
Art is survived by his beloved wife, Carol Beard; three daughters, Wendy (Dennis) Allen, Lisa (Chris) Barry, and Martha (Dave) Casey; nine grandchildren, Diana, and Craig (Andrea) Heppe, Pearce (Danielle) Saye, Christine (Lyn) Formento, Cole and Carson (Amanda) Barry, Kyle, Cory (Natalie), and Jay Casey; and seven great grandchildren, Tyler and Tara Goodearly, Rex and Kira Heppe, Colton Saye, Evan Formento, and Margot Barry. He is also survived by his loving sister-in-law, Elizabeth Dyer, who cared for him in his final months.
Art is predeceased by his brother Donald Beard, his sister Ann McCaul, his former wife Betty Ann Beard, his former wife Joan Beard, and the eldest of his four daughters, Linda Westcott.
Art was an avid golfer and active member of the community for many decades. His passion, calm demeanor, and sharp wit will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
A memorial will be held in early summer.