Virginia Beahrs, scholar and longtime Palo Altan, dies at 93 Virginia Beahrs, scholar and longtime Palo Altan, dies at 93 (November 02, 2005)

by Jay Thorwaldson

Virginia Oakley Beahrs, a resident of Palo Alto for 58 years and a former Stanford official and author, died peacefully on Oct. 25 at 93. Mrs. Beahrs was recognized as an accomplished teacher, writer, Beethoven scholar and administrator.

She is survived by her husband of 67 years, John V. Beahrs, who served on the Palo Alto City Council in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They have resided in the same Palo Alto home since 1947, where they raised their sons John, Dick and Bill.

Last February they attended a Valentine's Day party at the International House at University of California, Berkeley, held to honor couples who met there, including John and Virginia. The party marked the 72nd anniversary of their first date.

Virginia Oakley was born Dec. 26, 1911, in Porterville, Calif. She graduated from Pomona College and held a graduate degree in teaching from UC Berkeley.

Virginia and John married in 1938, then resided in Berkeley until the conclusion of John's World War II combat service in the Pacific, at which time they moved to Palo Alto. When their youngest child reached middle school, Virginia resumed her professional career at Stanford University, where she managed the Counseling and Testing Center for more than a decade.

After retiring from the position, she devoted herself to various intellectual and academic inquiries, and she was known as an insatiable reader and researcher. In 1976, her book on the Marquis de Lafayette, "The Power and the Glory," was published. Her writings on the life and work of Beethoven appeared regularly in Beethoven Journal and other academic publications into her 90s.

Her lifelong intellectual curiosity was reflected in her travels around the world with John.

John and Virginia also were active in the community in a variety of elected and volunteer positions.

Family and friends characterize her life as one of infectious optimism, extraordinary persistence and unconditional devotion to her family.

In addition to John and her three children, she is survived by seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, as well as sisters Helen Hardy and Eleanor Robinson. She was predeceased by two daughters, Kathryn and Elizabeth.

A memorial service was Saturday, Oct. 29, at St. Marks Episcopal Church in Palo Alto. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be contributions to the American Beethoven Society/Beethoven Center at San Jose State University or the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, Palo Alto.

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