FAMILY OBIT
Provincetown Sea Captain, John Beauchamp, unfurled his final sail in the early hours of Monday, July 1st 2013. The 75-years old succumbed to complications from a chronic condition. He was the son of Mary Ellen and Jack Beauchamp and the devoted Grandson of Provincetown Writer, Mary Heaton Vorse.
Born in New York City, Beauchamp spent his early years between Provincetown, New York and Helena, Montana where he and his family lived for several of those years.
His early twenties found John back in New York City – very much a part of the artistic/”beat” community. It was here John met and married the first “Leslie” in his life.
Restless to travel John went to India where he spent a year in an Indian prison on gold smuggling charges. Later this experience was reflected in several of his drawings and lithographs.
Back home a year later John joined the U.S. Army where he spent two years – as pal Flaherty would describe - as “Never Private – more like a General Occupation”.
In the early 60’s John met “Leslie # 2”. Together they travelled to Mexico City where John taught fencing at the American University of Mexico City for a couple of years. After a near-tragic auto accident left Leslie partially crippled, the two returned to Leslie’s hometown in Hawaii - and got married.
By 1968 they moved back to Provincetown living in a family cottage “T Barn”.
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John went back to New York in the early 70’s painting and living an artist’s life.
His art caught the eye of the famous surrealist painter, Salvador Dali.
In this period John also worked in Maritime and served as a barge Captain in New York helping construct the Throgs Neck Bridge.
He and his wife eventually returned to Hawaii where they lived for several years but separated with John returning to New York City. While working as a “bouncer” at Greenwich Village’s BACK FENCE Bar John suffered severe injuries and within a year moved back with Leslie in Hawaii.
Sadly, Leslie died several years later and John returned home to Provincetown for good - taking “the helm” (as he liked to refer to) at the family property in town while undertaking the formal process of study and rigorous testing to become a Sea Captain. In 2006 John Beauchamp became a Certified Seafaring Maritime Captain and fulfilled a life-long dream of Serving as Captain of the schooner HINDU – a sailing ship he had crewed on as a teenager.
He was also a prolific artist and sculptor.
In a self-written Eulogy John ends by saying
“These past 15 years with y’All have truly been the best in my life.
Take care of yourselves and steady-on mates.”
John is survived by his daughter Michelle and his two cousins Sally O’ Brien and her husband Pedro Monges; and Gael Poltrack and her husband Stephen of Ossining, N.Y.; many devoted friends and fellow travelers, and his dear friend, Linnea Olson.
A Memorial Service and scattering of ashes is being planned for September 21st.