Marjorie (Jo) M. Beshore left this world early on the morning of Jan. 25, 2023, after a long illness. She had just turned 79 years old Jan. 21. She passed in her sleep at home with her husband of 53 years, Fred, in attendance.
She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 15 years ago and valiantly fought the good fight. She was incredibly strong and tough. She fought every step of the way. Jo and Fred moved from Oceanport to South Duxbury, Vermont, two years ago. They built the Red Barn with a handicap-friendly apartment on the property so Jo would never have to go to a nursing home. Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice came every day to care for her and attend to her every need. They are angels.
Jo was born Jan. 21, 1944, in Brooklyn to Marjorie G. Mantz and William J. Mantz Jr. At the time Bill Mantz was a sugar plantation manager in Cuba. Shortly after Jo’s birth they returned to their home in Cuba and stayed until the political climate made it unsafe for them to remain. They returned to Westchester County, New York, and ultimately settled in Pocantico Hills, part of the Rockefeller Estate. A couple of Jo’s favorite memories were being a summer nanny for the Rockefeller grandkids when she was in her late teens.
Jo lived in Pocantico until she graduated from college in 1966. She attended elementary school in Pocantico Hills and high school in Tarrytown, graduating in 1962. She attended Bucknell University and earned a degree in elementary education. She was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. It is also at Bucknell that she met her future husband Fred.
After graduation Jo began teaching elementary school in Rockland County, New York. She moved to Manhattan with several of her girlfriends from school. Fred was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army who was sent to Germany on active duty. They decided not to marry at that time.
That all changed in 1969. Fred came home from Germany on his way to Vietnam and proposed to Jo. They were married at the Union Church of Pocantico Hills in September 1969 and then moved to Hawaii for the next year while Fred’s service obligation was completed. After Hawaii they settled in North Wales, Pennsylvania, where Jo resumed her teaching career. In 1974, when Fred completed his graduate studies, he took a job in Union and they moved to Oceanport at the Jersey Shore.
For the next 48 years Jo was very busy being a wonderful wife and a mother to two boys, Greg (born in 1972) and Erik (born in 1976) and a great friend to many. She was a stay-at-home mom until the boys were high school age. Then she put her love of books to commercial benefit and became a book seller at Barnes & Noble for 20 years.
In the meantime, she stayed very busy on the social side. She was a member of several organizations: a longtime member of the Tower Hill Church; Campership charity; aerobic dancing; Junior League of Monmouth County; Edgewater Beach Club; Shrewsbury Sailing and Yacht Club; and Femskips sailing team. Her boys were very involved in extracurricular activities and she never missed a home event. Both boys had paper routes when they were kids and Jo ended up driving them around on every inclement day.
One of her best loves was Shrewsbury Sailing and Yacht Club. In 1976 Jo was expecting Erik and the family lived right down the road from SS&YC. A neighbor was a member and needed ballast help on windy days to be able to control his Sanderling. Jo was the envisioned ballast. That’s how the Beshores were introduced to the club. They joined and bought a Sanderling in 1979 and were active until they moved to Vermont. It was a perfect place for Jo. She had many good friends and had a chance to exercise her happy feet at every party. She was also an accomplished sailor in her own right. In 1986 she was First Lady and that was important and valuable but not easy. We will always remember and respect the wonderful life experiences we had there.
Jo has been cremated and will be buried sometime this spring, on a nice day, at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York. Jo is survived by her husband Fred and her two sons, Greg and his wife Karin and Erik and his wife Allyson. Also surviving are her brother John and his wife Karen, and nephew Chris and his wife Erin and their daughter Mackenzie. She has one cousin, Terry Gallaer, who lives in New York City.
Jo is now free of disease and other earthly bonds and her spirit can rejoice at a life well lived.
In lieu of flowers please consider contributing to Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641.
The article originally appeared in the February 23 – March 1, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
