Jack Beattie: Former Spartan Swimming Great Passes
4/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
April 12, 2016
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Dr. Jack Beattie, former Michigan State swimming standout from 1952-56, died on Sunday, April 3. Beattie’s passing was peaceful at the age of 81.
Beattie was born October 2, 1934, in Bay City, Michigan. He earned his undergraduate degree at Michigan State University in 1956, his dental degree at University of Michigan in 1960 and his Master’s Degree in Orthodontics from Western Reserve in Cleveland in 1963.
At an early age, Beattie distinguished himself as a high school state champion and an All-American swimmer. While at MSU (1952-56), under coach Charles McCaffree Jr., he received the outstanding freshman swimmer award and became an NCAA All-American in 1954.
Beattie re-launched his competitive swimming career in the 1970s by entering the United States Masters Swimming (USMS) competition where he subsequently won multiple national championships and set national age group records. USMS competition eventually led to his breaking several Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) world records, while traveling to international meets in 10 different countries. His three gold medal performance, including a world record in Tokyo in 1986, earned him recognition in Sports Illustrated.
The Bay City, Michigan, native also received an Athlete of the Year Award from the Orlando Sentinel when he simultaneously held five world age group records in different events. His most memorable national competition was in 1990 when he won six out of six events, while setting two world age group records in the 50 meter and 100 meter backstroke. Beattie subsequently entered into open water competition, swimming the Maui Channel (Lanai to Maui) and winning his age group in the 2.3 mile, 21st Annual Waikiki Rough Water Swim.
Beattie’s masters swimming career was punctuated by swimming the English Channel in August, 2000, on a relay of six swimmers. This officially sanctioned competition resulted in the Channel Association’s award for the fastest relay crossing of the year. He was also a recipient of the 2006 Heusner Service Award from MSU Swimming and Diving.
The Spartan great was elected as a delegate to the American Dental Association for 22 years and as a delegate and council member to the American Association of Orthodontists for 27 years. In his specialty, he received the Florida Association of Orthodontists’ Distinguished Service Award, as well as the Southern Association of Orthodontists’ Oren Oliver Distinguished Service Award in 2007.
Beattie is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ernestine, son Dr. John R. Beattie, who followed him into orthodontics and practiced with him for many years, son Dr. Jeffrey L. Beattie, an oral surgeon (spouse Tracy Beattie) and daughter Kimberly Beattie Nordheim, an attorney (spouse Gregory Nordheim) and six grandchildren, Nick, Jake, Caroline, John, Gregory, and Jacqueline.
To learn more of Dr. Jack Beattie, please see www.drjackbeattie.com. A memorial service will be held at the Winter Park Presbyterian Church in Winter Park, Florida, at 11:00 a.m. on Friday April 22. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Dental Society of Greater Orlando Charitable Foundation.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Dr. Jack Beattie, former Michigan State swimming standout from 1952-56, died on Sunday, April 3. Beattie’s passing was peaceful at the age of 81.
Beattie was born October 2, 1934, in Bay City, Michigan. He earned his undergraduate degree at Michigan State University in 1956, his dental degree at University of Michigan in 1960 and his Master’s Degree in Orthodontics from Western Reserve in Cleveland in 1963.
At an early age, Beattie distinguished himself as a high school state champion and an All-American swimmer. While at MSU (1952-56), under coach Charles McCaffree Jr., he received the outstanding freshman swimmer award and became an NCAA All-American in 1954.
Beattie re-launched his competitive swimming career in the 1970s by entering the United States Masters Swimming (USMS) competition where he subsequently won multiple national championships and set national age group records. USMS competition eventually led to his breaking several Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) world records, while traveling to international meets in 10 different countries. His three gold medal performance, including a world record in Tokyo in 1986, earned him recognition in Sports Illustrated.
The Bay City, Michigan, native also received an Athlete of the Year Award from the Orlando Sentinel when he simultaneously held five world age group records in different events. His most memorable national competition was in 1990 when he won six out of six events, while setting two world age group records in the 50 meter and 100 meter backstroke. Beattie subsequently entered into open water competition, swimming the Maui Channel (Lanai to Maui) and winning his age group in the 2.3 mile, 21st Annual Waikiki Rough Water Swim.
Beattie’s masters swimming career was punctuated by swimming the English Channel in August, 2000, on a relay of six swimmers. This officially sanctioned competition resulted in the Channel Association’s award for the fastest relay crossing of the year. He was also a recipient of the 2006 Heusner Service Award from MSU Swimming and Diving.
The Spartan great was elected as a delegate to the American Dental Association for 22 years and as a delegate and council member to the American Association of Orthodontists for 27 years. In his specialty, he received the Florida Association of Orthodontists’ Distinguished Service Award, as well as the Southern Association of Orthodontists’ Oren Oliver Distinguished Service Award in 2007.
Beattie is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ernestine, son Dr. John R. Beattie, who followed him into orthodontics and practiced with him for many years, son Dr. Jeffrey L. Beattie, an oral surgeon (spouse Tracy Beattie) and daughter Kimberly Beattie Nordheim, an attorney (spouse Gregory Nordheim) and six grandchildren, Nick, Jake, Caroline, John, Gregory, and Jacqueline.
To learn more of Dr. Jack Beattie, please see www.drjackbeattie.com. A memorial service will be held at the Winter Park Presbyterian Church in Winter Park, Florida, at 11:00 a.m. on Friday April 22. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Dental Society of Greater Orlando Charitable Foundation.
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