Robert O. “Jake” Beattie, 85, formerly of Eastnor Road, Newport, passed away with family at his bedside on Sunday, June 24, 2018 at the Village House Nursing & Rehab Center in Newport, RI. He was the husband of the late Anita R. (Parris) Beattie. Born in the 5th Ward on September 14, 1932, he was the son of the late James M. and Margaret (Dugan) Beattie.
After attending St. Augustin’s School, he graduated from Rogers in 1950, and soon after enlisted in the US Army for three years where he proudly served with the “Remington Raiders”, a unit with whom he “never retreated, only backspaced”. Jake then continued his education at Bryant College while employed at Raytheon for over 30 years as Manager of Material Control. He was a legendary mixologist serving and entertaining at Christie’s Bar and Restaurant and at the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Second only to his love for Nita and his family was golf. He was a member at the Wanumetonomy Country Club, and actually hit a hole in one on the same hole, 20 years apart. Jake was an active member of the Ancient Order of Hibernian’s as state Treasurer and received the 1986 Hibernian of the Year Award on the same day his granddaughter Maggie was born. He served on the City Council as 5th Ward representative and was Vice-Mayor under Mayor Humphrey J. Donnelly III in the mid-1970s. He and his bride retired to Deerfield Beach, Florida for more than a decade but the love of Newport brought him back.
He was grateful to have been able to travel to Ireland with Nita to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and again in 2010 to see Kinsale and play golf at Old Head with his daughter Renie.
Jake is survived by his daughters Renie (Sully) Sullivan of Newport, Susan Carlson of Newport, and son Bob (Betsy) Beattie of Rutland, Vermont. His grandchildren Andrew (Dana) Jennings of Newport, Maggie Sullivan of Somerville, MA, Anders Carlson of Newport, and twins Robert and Kiernan Beattie of Rutland, VT. He is also survived by two great-grandsons, Charlie and Alex Jennings of Newport. He is also survived by brother Kenneth Beattie and sister Margaret “Peggy” Beattie. He was the brother of the late James and Donald Beattie.
His second family was the wonderful staff at the Village House. Lucille, Sheila and Caryn were his girls. Much thanks to Maura McAvinn who was his “chauffer” for years before residing at the Village.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, June 29 at 10 am at St Augustin’s Church, Carroll Ave, Newport. Burial will be at St. Columba Cemetery, Brown’s Lane, Middletown.
Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, June 28 from 4-7 pm at O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring St., Newport.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Village House Activities Fund, 70 Harrison Avenue, Newport, RI, 02840.
