More than 500 people filled the bleachers in the Scotts Valley High School gymnasium Tuesday, Jan. 31 to celebrate the life of beloved teacher and counselor Lynn Beebe.
Beebe died Jan. 22 after battling breast cancer for three years. She was 47.
The ceremony was attended by a wide cross section of people, including Scotts Valley Unified School District students, politicians, coaches, teachers, administrators, family and friends.
“Lynn knew everyone,” said longtime friend Shannon Calden during the ceremony. “Going out with her was like going out with a celebrity. She remembered (so many) names and details about people.”
Beebe graduated from Soquel High School in 1982 after starring in basketball for the Knights. During her career, the 6-foot, 3-inch Beebe scored more than 1,000 points and earned all-league honors. Her No. 25 was retired at Soquel in 2010, and her jersey hangs in the gymnasium there.
Beebe played at Cabrillo College beginning in 1990 while also coaching the Harbor High junior varsity team. She was an assistant coach for the Harbor varsity girls team alongside head coach Nick Adams as the team won several Central Coast Section titles in the 1980s and 1990s.
She had worked at Scotts Valley Middle School since 1992, first as a teacher and then as the school’s guidance counselor. She earned her master’s degree at Santa Clara University.
Her brother Dave Beebe spoke about his sister’s dislike for school as a girl, because her height made her the object of ridicule by her peers.
“I can’t imagine anyone guiding middle schoolers through an awkward and scary time better than someone who had experienced it,” Dave Beebe said. “Lynn spent her first 18 years avoiding school and then spent her whole (professional) career at school.”
Lynn Beebe’s stature and caring personality could not be missed, according to the people who spoke.
“She was a great listener,” said Tracey Bosso, Scotts Valley Middle School assistant principal. “Even fighting her own battle, she was always looking out for someone else.”
To students, she was a counselor who offered advice about relationships and college choices while cracking sarcastic jokes.
“She never failed to make me laugh and ask me about my life,” said senior Natalia Ebrahimian.
Beebe’s passion, outside teaching and guiding students, was the San Francisco Giants. According to friend Allison Niday, Beebe had attended four consecutive opening days. At one game, while sitting right below the broadcast booth, she asked legendary radio announcer Jon Miller to sign her pink Giants hat.
Middle school Principal Mary Lonhart worked with Beebe for 18 years and said Beebe supported her when times got tough.
“Lynn always noticed when I was the one in need,” Lonhart said. “She was always my rock.”
Lonhart announced that the middle school pavilion would soon be renamed Lynn Beebe Memorial Pavilion, to honor Beebe’s contributions and memory.
Suzanne Ebrahimian sang “Go In Peace,” accompanied by Beth Hollenbeck on the keyboard. The Scotts Valley middle school and high school choirs closed Tuesday’s ceremony with a rendition of “Peace I Leave with You.”
