Joseph John Beatrice, "Joebee", 91, was a husband, father, grandfather, WWII Veteran, teacher, and coach. Joseph died peacefully at South County Hospital on May 16, 2017. Born in Peacedale, RI on October 1, 1925, he was the son of the late Armand and Alice (Motroni) Beatrice. Joe was the loving husband of Carol (Binda) Beatrice for 52 years. He is survived by four sons, Michael (Sarah) of North Kingstown, Stephen (Antonio Moltoni) of Brooklyn, NY, Brian (Nicole) of Glen Rock, NJ, and David of Brooklyn, NY and his two grandchildren, Sienna and Gunnar, of Glen Rock, NJ. Joseph was the brother of Mary LaMarque of North Kingstown, Irene Forbes of Narragansett, and the late Dorothy Riley of Topsfield, MA.

Joebee was a kind, gentle, honest, unassuming man with a great sense of humor and had a smile for everyone he met. He enjoyed the simple things in life which included sitting on the wall at Narragansett beach, hanging around a ball field, and especially being surrounded by family. He was both a lifetime New York Yankees and New York Giants fan. Joe loved long drives throughout South County as resident tour guide for friends, family, and relatives.

After graduating from South Kingstown High School in 1943 he entered the Navy where he flew as a radio gunner off the Princeton Aircraft Carrier stationed in San Diego, CA. As a war veteran, he belonged to the American Legion and was actively involved with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, holding various post positions. Following his naval service, Joseph attended Providence College, graduating in the class of 1951. For several years he worked for Warwick Club Soda, West Warwick before becoming a teacher. Joseph taught mathematics and physical education for 33 years in the Jamestown and North Kingstown school systems. Teaching and coaching middle school students were his true vocations.

He was the director of the Narragansett Youth Center during the 1950's where he organized dances, events and coached ball teams. In the 1960's, Joe was the director of the Jamestown Recreation Center. From 1978 to 1991, Joe could be seen running or driving afternoons through Wickford with his boys as they delivered the Providence Evening Bulletin. For more than two decades through the 1970's and 1980's, Joseph was President, coach, and umpire for the Wickford Little League. He coached the baseball team for the Davisville Middle School, often playing in the state championship games. Employed summers by North Kingstown, Joe was director of the North Kingstown summer recreation program, head lifeguard at the North Kingstown Town Beach, and a starter at the North Kingstown golf course. Later in retirement, Joe was a starter at the Boulder Hill Golf Course. He umpired and refereed for the North Kingstown men's recreation softball and basketball leagues. During the 1990's, Joseph supported the annual Reading Recovery Conferences of Lesley University, which included handling the planning and preparation of conference registrations. In the last decade of his life, Joe took pride in being the scorekeeper and timer for the North Kingstown High School basketball and football teams.

A celebratory service of Joseph's life will take place on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 10:30 AM at THE CRANSTON-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME of WICKFORD, 140 West Main Street, Wickford Village, North Kingstown, followed by a service at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery with Military Honors at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe's memory may be made to the Joseph J. Beatrice Memorial Fund for the North Kingstown Town Beach renovations in care of John Gibbons, 3 Stone Gate Drive, North Kingstown RI 02852.

 

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