Farewell to a Friend and Brother
by Ralph Otis • March 2009 • 6 Comments •
It saddens me to report that we lost a great friend and Lambda Chi Alpha brother, Larry Beutel (Iowa State 1981), in the recent plane crash of Continental Flight #3407 in Buffalo, New York, on February 12, 2009. Larry’s job required significant travel. This particular day was a day trip to New Jersey. He boarded this particular flight ahead of his scheduled flight in order to get home to his family early.
Many of you know Larry by different names. He had many nicknames, so you might know him as CAB, Art, Clarence, or his favorite, BC.
No matter what you called him, he was a friend and very dedicated to our Fraternity at Iowa State. He served in many roles while in the house, the last serving as the president of the chapter. I recall the evening he was elected when I spoke to the chapter about his leadership and character. I have known him for over 30 years and today I would give the same speech about what a fine man he was. He took on some tough issues, which often were not popular, but he knew that it was right for the Fraternity. He made a difference to our house.
Larry graduated from Iowa State in 1981 with a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering. He worked in the oil industry for awhile and then returned to school to get his MBA at Harvard University. He has since worked with a few different companies and most recently served as the vice president of consulting for Salient in the Buffalo, New York area.
Last fall, Larry visited our family in Princeton, New Jersey. He expressed his continued dedication to the Alpha-Tau chapter and encouraged me to help the chapter in anyway I could. Neither he nor I have been back to the house for many years, but his love for the house remained strong.
The most important thing he did at that dinner was talk to my 17-year-old son about the value of a fraternity. He went on about friendships, loyalty, academics, leadership and, yes, even a few good times. In this time of sorrow, it is clear to me how accurate he was.
I have had the pleasure of renewing some old relationships with brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha. It is sad that it has happened due to the passing of Larry.
Larry is survived by his wife, Kara, and two sons, Ethan and CA.
Farewell to a great friend and brother.
Jeff Redmon AT 667 Says:
March 2nd, 2009 at 8:32 pmWe all move on from college and unfortunately do not stay in touch those who were so important to us then. Larry was a wonderful person and his untimely passing is a loss to his family he loved so much but all of us. Larry was an example of how our time at Lambda Chi helped shape some extraordinary men.
Larry, you will be missed but never forgotten.
Yours in ZAX,
Jeff Redmon
AT 667
Zachary Tucker Says:
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:53 pmFragile
None of us have anything more,
Than a fragile hold to life
Life is a gift
Given, with the understanding
That one day it will be reclaimed
There are no guarantees
To the length of life
We’re all on a moments notice
If we understand
The fragile nature of life
a fragileness born from His will
Then we know that at a moment it can be taken
We’re at his Will,
His will is unknown by us
We maybe willed long life
Or just a second or moment on this earth
With the knowledge
Of the fragileness of life
Lets appreciate
each second and moment we have
Because we never know when His will,
Will be to take His gift,
And to use it in another way
In order to serve His will.
Life is fragile
And so full of uncertainties
So full of the unexplained
So full of perceived hurdles
Life is so full of the incomprehensible
So full of things we can understand
So full of the unanswerable
So full of things we find had to accept.
Life, even though fragile,
Was given to be lived,
Living only come from sharing
And filling your life with love, caring, happiness and joy.
If you fully understand the fragileness of life,
You’re live to the fullest,
You’re touch others life is a special way
And you’re claim in an entitlement way your right be happy.
Give up worries, pity and regret
Give up sorrow, anger, hurt
Give up being unhappy, depressed and guilty
Life is fragile and fleeting.
There is no time,
Except the time
You spend living
This fragile life to it’s fullest.
You never know when you fragile hold,
To life with end,
And He reclaims what is HIS
For that reason live and fill your life with joy.
(Copyright, zct 2005)
Nicholas Kilduff Says:
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:47 amRest in peace, bro.
Bruce Bohlken AT 694 Says:
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:14 amDuring my years at Iowa State I had the privilege of knowing many fine men at Lambda Chi Alpha. Several are close friends to this day. I lived with BC for a quarter and had the honor of serving with him during initiations. He was one of the finest men I have ever met and a great example of what it means to be a Lambda Chi. My heart goes out for his family for their loss and for my Brothers.
Dave Duren Says:
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:19 pmSitting in an airport right now…having left a wife and two boys this a.m. still in bed, I lift up a prayer for his family and for all of us who travel these airways…May we always stop and tells those we love exactly that..we love them!
Dave- FSU – ’83 LXA ZP Chapter
Larry Concannon Says:
July 26th, 2010 at 11:01 amNice to see the kind words about Larry. I was Larry’s roommate at Harvard Business School. Four of us from HBS ’85 attended Larry’s wake and funeral in 2009. We are dedicating our section’s reunion in September to “LB” as we called him…. Great guy.