CONCORD JOURNAL
Beechers celebrate 65 years
Nancy and Norman Beecher, currently of Milldam Square and Fort Meyers, Fla., are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary.
Their relationship began after Norman returned from Germany, where he served during WW II. He was set up on a blind date with Nancy, by his sister Ann, a fellow student at Wellesley College. Neither was sure this was an auspicious pairing at first, but they courted, found they had education, hopes and goals in common and fell in love.
Norman begins the chapter "Life Together," of their autobiography and family history: "Norman Beecher and Nancy Elizabeth Bartram were married June 26, 1948, at the First Presbyterian Church in Charleston, West Virginia. The minis­ters, who jointly conducted the service, were the Rev. Paul E. Crane, from Nancy's home church in Nitro, and the Rev. Herbert M. Gale, a teacher of hers first at Northfield School and later at Wellesley College. We memorized our vows and recited them to each other. There was no 'obey' in the ceremony."
A reception followed at the Charleston Women's Club, after the entire party waited outside in 90-degree heat until the attendant inside was awakened to unlock the doors. Then there was a rain-filled camping trip to the Gaspe Peninsula, three years in Istanbul, an ScD (doctor of science degree) from MIT, babies in 1952, 1954, 1956 and 1958, work (Nancy in state and local government, as well as homemaking, Norman in chemical engineering, teaching), visits to and from family and friends, travels abroad, summers in Maine, and always music, church, hiking, sailing, tennis, in a whirlwind affectionately called FOMTI (fit one more thing in). Nancy is a former member of the Board of Selectmen and Norman was on the planning commission for years; they have been Concord residents since 1954.
As in all long-term relationships there were ups and downs but looking back contemplatively, Nancy and Norman, call theirs a "fortunate journey." At the time of their 50th, they were asked what had kept them going for so long. The answer: applesauce – she makes it, he eats it. And now: "we make a pretty good team." She keeps him moving; he does the remembering. "No regrets."
The couple's 65th anniversary will be gleefully and gratefully celebrated – all summer long, here and in Maine – by their four children (Catharine, Carolyn, Norman B., Ned) and their partners (Jack, Marty, Jaci, Chris), five grandchildren (Gordon, Wilson, Steve, Jesse and Juliana) and their partners, including Lyra, who will deliver their first stateside great-grandchild in August), AFS daughter Carla Piccinini, and her daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren in Italy, and countless other relatives and friends.