A Celebration of Life to be Held for Legendary Coach John Beam in Oakland
A celebration of life will take place this Saturday at the Henry J Kaiser Center for the Arts to pay tribute to Coach John Beam, a beloved figure in the Oakland community and a legendary coach who spent over 40 years mentoring athletes. The event comes just days after Beam's passing on November 14th when he was tragically shot outside his home at Laney College.
Beam, who was only 66, is remembered as a larger-than-life personality whose impact extended far beyond the football field. He helped transform countless lives and inspired generations of athletes to pursue their passions with dedication and perseverance. His legacy extends beyond the Bay Area, where he coached for many years, and can be seen in Netflix's popular documentary series "Last Chance U," which showcases his work with troubled athletes.
Beam is survived by his loving wife, two daughters, and granddaughters, whose lives will continue to be shaped by his love and guidance. The celebration of life will serve as a fitting tribute to his enduring legacy, allowing friends, family, and fans to come together to share stories, memories, and celebrate the extraordinary impact he had on their lives.
For those who cannot attend in person, Coach Beam's celebration of life will be broadcast live on ABC7 in the video player above. The event begins at 2 p.m., and while tickets have sold out, viewers can still tune in to pay their respects to this remarkable man who left an indelible mark on the lives of so many.
A celebration of life will take place this Saturday at the Henry J Kaiser Center for the Arts to pay tribute to Coach John Beam, a beloved figure in the Oakland community and a legendary coach who spent over 40 years mentoring athletes. The event comes just days after Beam's passing on November 14th when he was tragically shot outside his home at Laney College.
Beam, who was only 66, is remembered as a larger-than-life personality whose impact extended far beyond the football field. He helped transform countless lives and inspired generations of athletes to pursue their passions with dedication and perseverance. His legacy extends beyond the Bay Area, where he coached for many years, and can be seen in Netflix's popular documentary series "Last Chance U," which showcases his work with troubled athletes.
Beam is survived by his loving wife, two daughters, and granddaughters, whose lives will continue to be shaped by his love and guidance. The celebration of life will serve as a fitting tribute to his enduring legacy, allowing friends, family, and fans to come together to share stories, memories, and celebrate the extraordinary impact he had on their lives.
For those who cannot attend in person, Coach Beam's celebration of life will be broadcast live on ABC7 in the video player above. The event begins at 2 p.m., and while tickets have sold out, viewers can still tune in to pay their respects to this remarkable man who left an indelible mark on the lives of so many.
oh man, just thinking about Coach Beam's story is giving me all the feels 
he was more than just a coach, he was a mentor, a role model, and a true legend 
40 years in mentoring athletes? that's insane! 
let's all take a moment to reflect on how he impacted our lives, whether we knew him or not 
just heard about Coach John Beam... what a legend! 40 yrs of mentoring athletes & he changed so many lives for the better 
his legacy is gonna live on through all those people he helped shape into amazing individuals 
also sad that his life was cut short like this, tragic 
but at least we get to celebrate his life & memories this Sat at the Henry J Kaiser Center for the Arts 
Coach John Beam was more than just a coach, he was a legend 
! His passing was a shock to everyone, especially given his positive impact on people's lives. I've seen him in "Last Chance U" and I can see why it inspired so many. The way he mentored those athletes, even the ones with troubled pasts... it's truly heartwarming 
... feels like such a loss for the Oakland community. The guy was more than just a coach - he seemed like someone who truly cared about his players and made a real difference in their lives 
. i'm glad the city is coming together to celebrate his life and legacy, but some things just don't add up - like how he was shot outside his home? seems like a waste of such an amazing person's energy 
. that documentary series "last chance u" on netflix is actually pretty cool, though... gives you chills seeing those guys transform into athletes under coach beam's guidance 
. anyway, i'm sure it'll be a great event for the community to come together and share stories - just hope they have some good food there 
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. I mean, it's always sad when someone passes away, but Coach Beam was literally a legend and deserves more than just a 2 p.m. slot on ABC7 
. Guess that's just the way it goes when you're famous.
... 40 years of mentoring athletes is a big loss... cant believe his legacy will be celebrated like this 
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. The celebration of life being held in his honor is a testament to the profound impact he had on the lives of so many people 
, shows how far his impact went beyond Oakland 
his legacy lives on through all those athletes and families he touched, and now we get to celebrate that 
it's so important to keep his memory alive and share stories about how he changed people's lives for the better. can't wait to watch the live broadcast on ABC7 this Saturday 