Family tree Van de Kolk, De Gunst, Lok, Lassche en Nunspeet 1910 » Marvin Edwin Beekman (1909-1985)

Personal data Marvin Edwin Beekman 

• He was born on May 9, 1909 in Grand Haven, Ottawa Co. Mi. VS.
• Profession: Teacher, Dir. Special Ed in Michigan Dept of Education.
• He died on November 6, 1985 in Lansing, Ingham Co. (Mi. VS), he was 76 years old.
• He is buried on November 9, 1985 in Lansing, Ingham Co. (Mi. VS).
• A child of Albert E. Beekman and Martje Kieft

Household of Marvin Edwin Beekman

Notes about Marvin Edwin Beekman

Marvin spent 17 years in the Lansing Public School system, much of that as director of special education. In 1967 he became Director of Special Education for the Michigan Department of Education. The Marvin Beekman Center for handicapped children in Lansing, Michigan was named after Marvin. It opened in 1968.

He received an honorary degree from Central Michigan University in 1972. A newspaper article stated, "Marvin E. Beekman of Lansing, director of special education in the Michigan Department of Education, will receive an honorary degree May 13 from Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant. Due for retirement next January after more than 40 years in the special education field, Beekman spent 17 years in the Lansing Public School system. CMU officials said he will be honored for helping to place Michigan in the foreground of innovative programming and services for the mentally handicapped and will receive a Doctor of Public Service degree."
Marvin and Pauline were affiliated with Plymouth Congregational Church in Lansing, Michigan.

Cause of death is listed as cardiac arrest, a consequence of 2-3 years of arteriocleratic cardiomuscular disease. His death occurred at 12:34PM.

A Lansing State Journal obitruary entitled "Leader in education of handicapped dies" read as follows: "Marvin Beekman, the champion of the handicapped child, died Wednesday. He was 72. As director of special education for the Lansing schools, Beekman pioneered many programs that later became national standards for educating the handicapped.
As a tribute to his ability, the Lansing school district named its center for teaching the handicapped Beekman Center. The center is considered one of the best teaching facilities of its kind in the nation.
'I fully believe that the contributions he made to special education have affected the role of special education throughout the entire nation,' said former Lansing schools Superintendent Robert Chamberlain. 'I think his contributions have just been immeasurable.'I certainly want to share the feelings of his many friends in expressing sympathy for his loss,' said Chamberlain, a long-time friend and colleague. 'He was absolutely exceptional and did a fantastic job in the area of special education,' said Alex Canja, executive assistant to state Superintendent Phillip E. Runkel.
In 1957, Beekman began a one-man campaign to require all school districts to supply funds for special education.

When he left the Lansing district in 1967 to become state director of special education, he carried his message statewide. The legislature passed the law shortly before he retired in 1973 following open heart surgery.
Beekman's feeling for the handicapped came from personal experience. He ofter recalled how he overcame stuttering to begin his teaching career. And in his youth he had to walk on crutches.

'He used to say taxpayers paid to educate every child, but many handicapped children were not getting a fair shake,' his son, Lynn recalled.

Harold Spicknal, director of special education for the Ingham Intermediate School District, said Beekman was an innovator. 'He was willing to try anything new that he thought would help,' he recalled. 'He encouraged everyone to do better.'

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Timeline Marvin Edwin Beekman

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