July 27, 2014

Andy Beattie, La Cañada’s proudest volunteer for the last 23 years who served as everything from president of the La Cañada Unified School Board to president Emeritus of the LCHS Spartan Boosters and most recently as a public safety commissioner for the City, passed away on July 27.

Andy modernized our school buildings and programs and made our town safer.

A loyal Occidental College Tiger, Andy was a longtime member of the alumni board, again volunteering for the betterment of his alma mater.

Andy was a talented servant of the Democratic Party and a favorite volunteer with the White House Office of Advance. It is not surprising given Andy’s humble way that many of his friends and neighbors were unaware of his important and oft times sensitive travels with Presidents Obama and Clinton, their respective Vice Presidents and the First Ladies.  Most recently, Andy traveled to Baghdad, Santiago, Seoul, Warsaw, Mumbai and, of course, Beverly Hills on behalf of the White House.

In addition, he was a senior vice president of Strategic Partners, where he headed their Classroom School Uniforms Division. A lifelong apparel man, Andy was most proud of starting his own line of pajamas with his wife Kim. It was named Liz & Lauren in honor of their eldest daughter Lauren Elizabeth.

On July 26, Andy and Kim celebrated with family and friends Lauren’s wedding to Anthony Marino of Chicago, Illinois. Andy was the ultimate proud father of the bride, proud husband to Kim and proud father to Sarah and Katherine.

On the morning of July 27, while walking his beloved Golden Retriever Brodie, Andy passed suddenly from a massive heart attack. Brodie never left his side.

Andy is survived by his wife Kim; daughters Sarah, Katherine, Lauren and her husband Anthony Marino; his mother Marilynn; brothers Neil and John Beattie of Ventura, California. Andy was preceded in death by his father, Louis Andrew Beattie Sr., who passed away July 7.

A memorial service was held at Occidental College on Aug. 10. In lieu of flowers, and in the spirit of Andy’s commitment to bettering La Cañada, the family asks that donations be made to the YMCA of The Foothills in the name of Andy Beattie designated to support the building of additional parking for the YMCA.