Alan Beckenstein Obituary

Alan Richard Beckenstein

August 22, 1946 - July 17, 2025

Alan Beckenstein, son of Isadore "Becky" and Mildred Beckenstein, grew up in North Plainfield, NJ, where he loved school, sang in the choir, played football, and-most importantly-met the love of his life, Marlene Jacobs. Both were children of Jewish deli owners, and Alan's parents' deli was more than a family business-it was a beloved community gathering spot.

A first-generation college student, Alan graduated with honors from Lafayette College in 1968. He and Marlene married that year and moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Alan earned a PhD in Economics and became a lifelong Michigan football fan.

In 1972, they moved to Charlottesville, where Alan began a distinguished 53-year career at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business. In his early years, many of his students were older than he was.

Alan and Marlene welcomed their first daughter, Stacey, in 1973, and their second, Wendy, in 1975. Tragically, Marlene died suddenly in 1980, leaving Alan an unexpected single father. The Charlottesville community, especially the Landels, Graysons, Prowitts, and Marlene's sister and husband, Adrienne and Roger Graubard, surrounded the family with love and support. Still, the pain of her loss never left Alan.

He poured himself into raising his daughters, filling their lives with joy and humor: Motown music, Michigan football, John Belushi, golden retrievers, and dessert at every meal. He faithfully drove them to swim practices year-round-at all hours-while continuing to serve his students and colleagues with distinction.

At Darden, Alan memorized the face, name, and background of every student before the semester began. He believed personal connection was essential to learning-and his students noticed. He brought joyful humor to the classroom, often using skits and costumes to explain complex concepts. Long before it was common, he believed in the greatness of all students, regardless of background, and he helped others see their potential before they saw it themselves.

Alan's "Team of Three" grew when he and then-wife Anne welcomed daughter Allison in 1990. Like with Stacey and Wendy, Alan prioritized school, family, music, and swim practice with Allie-while proudly declaring her the family's "pride and joy."

Alan served on the UVA Faculty Senate and led Darden's Executive Program (TEP), forging deep and long-standing friendships. He deeply admired members across the University community-from students and professors, to physicians and custodians. He took special pride in seeing two of his daughters, a son-in-law, a grandson, and a granddaughter join UVA as undergraduates.

One of Alan's most cherished endeavors was leading a joint Darden and Ernst & Young program in New Zealand-making nearly 50 trips. There, he influenced countless managers and government officials while teaching global political economics. He fell in love with the people, the land, and the trout streams.

Alan adored his sons-in-law, Dave (Stacey), Joe (Wendy), and Alex (Allie)-and his grandchildren, Jack, Jane, Lilly, Eli, and JJ. In his final months, he proudly reflected on how each grandchild embraced education, music, sports, service, and family.

After a cancer diagnosis Alan fought hard, determined to enjoy more time with his family and his girlfriend, Marty (Martha Escobar), and return to the classroom. In the end, surrounded by his firstborn daughter and beloved colleagues, he died peacefully.

Alan will be remembered as a brilliant, kind, loyal, and generous man who always found more joy in his family's and colleague's success than in his own. He leaves behind a legacy of teaching, mentoring, parenting, and friendship that touched thousands.

The family is deeply grateful to Martha Escobar, Peter Prowitt, Frank Warnock, Sankaran Venkataraman, Tracy Melton, Case Greene, and Congregation Beth Israel for their support. A private burial was held on July 22, 2025. A public Celebration of Life will take place in early fall to honor Alan's extraordinary life.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Charlottesville Day School's scholarship program, The Townley Fund. Contributions can be made online at: https://www.cvilledayschool.org/support/.