André Gabriel Beaumont, decorated veteran
André Gabrielle Beaumont, 97, passed away Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, due to complications of the heart and kidneys.
André was born in Manhattan, N.Y., Jan. 3, 1926, to Aurelie and Gabriel Beaumont, and grew up in a French-speaking household. Andre learned English as a second language and graduated from The Collegiate School in 1943. Aided by the GI Bill of Rights, he earned an AB degree from Harvard College and an MBA degree from the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania. He completed all the requirements, save dissertation, for a Ph.D. degree from New York University.
In 1943 at 17, he enlisted in the Army to serve in World War II and was initially trained as a director operator for 90mm anti-aircraft guns. In the summer of 1944, his unit was deactivated and the personnel were trained as infantrymen. He was assigned as a replacement to Company F, 331 Infantry Regiment, 83rd Division, which he joined in the snows of Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. His unit fought through that campaign, crossed the Rhine River, and ended its combat by establishing a bridgehead over the Elbe River 45 miles from Berlin. Among other decorations, he was awarded a Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, and the Euro-African-Middle East Campaign Medal with three Battle Stars: Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He received an honorable discharge in June 1946. He was a proud member and executive board chairman of the 83rd Infantry Division Association Inc.
André was a retired chief executive and officer of several nonprofit organizations, his most significant post for 22 years as president of CCDM, Council on Career Development for Minorities, a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to the career advancement of minority college students and graduates. He was affiliated with this organization from its inception in 1965 as a Ford Foundation project. Before this, he worked for Rockefeller Center Inc. in human resources and labor relations and then served as director of Business Career Services at New York University. After he retired from CCDM in Dallas, he returned to his hometown, New York City, and worked for three years as the Northeast regional director of the Crohn’s Colitis Foundation of America.
In 1990, he retired to Millsboro and worked for seven years as part-time executive director of a community theater group, Possum Point Players.
Outside of work, he was involved with many community, civic, and human service organizations as an officer, board member and consultant. While a resident of Connecticut, André was elected to three consecutive terms to the Town of Darien's Representative Town Meeting and served as chairman of that group's planning and zoning committee, was vice chairman of the Darien Personnel Practices Commission, and founding member of Darien Equal Housing Association.
As a resident of Bethlehem, Pa., he was chairman of Lehigh Valley Urban Action Fund, treasurer of South Terrace Neighborhood Center, president of the Citizen’s Committee for Hogar Crea of Lehigh Valley, and a board member of Lehigh Valley Community Council. He also was elected to two three-year terms as an elder of the Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem.
Most recently he was a founding member and board officer of Primeros Pasos, an early child care and education center that is focused on care for young Hispanic children.
During his lifetime, André received many citations and awards, including a Public Service Commendation from the president of the United States and a tribute from the Senate of Delaware as a Distinguished Citizen.
His avocations were writing, opera and amateur theater, where he worked as an actor, director, and producer. Since 1955, he has been a devoted fan of the New York Giants football team.
André was a beloved family-oriented man who is survived by his wife of 37 years, Sally Ann Beaumont; and her son, Andre’s bonus son, Andrew J. Devito of Millsboro; his two daughters by a previous marriage to Lydia Fairbank Wright, Patrice Kokola (Walter) of Tucson, Ariz., and Louise Peach (Carl) of Williston, Vt.; and grandchildren, Hannah B. Peach, Tomas G. Peach and Nickerson F. Peach, all of Williston, Vt.
Visiting hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m., and 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 2, at Watson Funeral Home & Crematorium, 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro. A committal service will held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 3, at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 26667 Patriots Way, Millsboro.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in André’s memory to Primeros Pasos Early Education Center, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, or the 83rd Infantry Division Association.
Well done, Thunderbolt, shine forth and see it through!
Visit André’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his online guestbook at watsonfh.com.
