This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/02/world/asia/stuart-j-beck-american-who-helped-guide-palau-into-nationhood-dies-at-69.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Stuart J. Beck, American Who Helped Guide Palau Into Nationhood, Dies at 69 Stuart J. Beck, American Champion of a Pacific Island Nation, Dies at 69
(about 13 hours later)
Stuart J. Beck, a lawyer and television executive, died on Monday in Manhattan. He was 69.Stuart J. Beck, a lawyer and television executive, died on Monday in Manhattan. He was 69.
His obituary might well have ended there if Mr. Beck, a veteran of Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Club’s burlesque theatricals, had not borrowed a page from the Cold War satire “The Mouse That Roared” to score an unconventional diplomatic coup: For a decade he was the ambassador to the United Nations from the remote Western Pacific island nation of Palau.His obituary might well have ended there if Mr. Beck, a veteran of Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Club’s burlesque theatricals, had not borrowed a page from the Cold War satire “The Mouse That Roared” to score an unconventional diplomatic coup: For a decade he was the ambassador to the United Nations from the remote Western Pacific island nation of Palau.
His wife, Tulik, whom he met in Palau while on an environmental study mission in 1976, said he died of renal cancer. His wife, Tulik, whom he met in Palau in 1980 while on an environmental study mission, said he died of renal cancer.
Mr. Beck became not only an indefatigable advocate for Palau’s 21,000 residents (a population barely three times as great as that of his suburban hometown, Bronxville, N.Y.) but also an honorary citizen. He took on the job as the island’s $1-a-year ambassador to the United Nations after he had persuaded Palau (rhymes with allow), then a newly independent nation, to claim a seat in the General Assembly.Mr. Beck became not only an indefatigable advocate for Palau’s 21,000 residents (a population barely three times as great as that of his suburban hometown, Bronxville, N.Y.) but also an honorary citizen. He took on the job as the island’s $1-a-year ambassador to the United Nations after he had persuaded Palau (rhymes with allow), then a newly independent nation, to claim a seat in the General Assembly.
“I said to them, ‘Look, you don’t produce anything, you don’t manufacture anything, nobody’s after your labor pool, you don’t have anything that anyone wants, the U.S. already has defense and basing rights, so the only thing of value you have is your U.N. vote,’” Mr. Beck told The New York Times in 2005.“I said to them, ‘Look, you don’t produce anything, you don’t manufacture anything, nobody’s after your labor pool, you don’t have anything that anyone wants, the U.S. already has defense and basing rights, so the only thing of value you have is your U.N. vote,’” Mr. Beck told The New York Times in 2005.
“So they said to me, ‘Why don’t you do it?’”“So they said to me, ‘Why don’t you do it?’”
He did, beginning in 2003.He did, beginning in 2003.
With Mr. Beck as its voice in the General Assembly, Palau became America’s staunchest ally, siding more often with the United States on key votes than even Canada, according to the State Department, while also voting reliably in favor of Israel.With Mr. Beck as its voice in the General Assembly, Palau became America’s staunchest ally, siding more often with the United States on key votes than even Canada, according to the State Department, while also voting reliably in favor of Israel.
After giving up his seat in 2013, Mr. Beck was named Palau’s envoy for oceans and seas at the United Nations, spearheading the country’s successful campaign to ban commercial shark fishing and bottom trawling as well as export fishing, mining and drilling in most of the 230,000 square miles off its coasts.After giving up his seat in 2013, Mr. Beck was named Palau’s envoy for oceans and seas at the United Nations, spearheading the country’s successful campaign to ban commercial shark fishing and bottom trawling as well as export fishing, mining and drilling in most of the 230,000 square miles off its coasts.
To put that in perspective, with Mr. Beck’s prodding, a nation the size of Philadelphia took responsibility for the ocean environment of an area about as big as France.To put that in perspective, with Mr. Beck’s prodding, a nation the size of Philadelphia took responsibility for the ocean environment of an area about as big as France.
Stuart Jay Beck was born on Dec. 23, 1946, in Manhattan, the son of Martin F. Beck, a radio broadcasting executive, and the former Lorraine Hills.Stuart Jay Beck was born on Dec. 23, 1946, in Manhattan, the son of Martin F. Beck, a radio broadcasting executive, and the former Lorraine Hills.
He was raised in Brooklyn and on Long Island, in Lawrence. He graduated from Woodmere Academy (now Lawrence Woodmere Academy), Harvard University and Yale University Law School. He worked for several law firms before starting his own practice.He was raised in Brooklyn and on Long Island, in Lawrence. He graduated from Woodmere Academy (now Lawrence Woodmere Academy), Harvard University and Yale University Law School. He worked for several law firms before starting his own practice.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by their children, Johanna, Charles and Sam Beck, and Emadch Beck MacNee; a sister, Susan Champlin; and two grandchildren.In addition to his wife, he is survived by their children, Johanna, Charles and Sam Beck, and Emadch Beck MacNee; a sister, Susan Champlin; and two grandchildren.
Mr. Beck first visited Palau, about 600 miles east of the Philippines, on what he remembered as a “boondoggle” to study the potential environmental impact on coral reefs of a proposed petroleum superport. Mr. Beck first visited Palau, about 600 miles east of the Philippines, in 1976, on what he remembered as a “boondoggle” to study the potential environmental impact on coral reefs of a proposed petroleum superport.
He was enlisted by associates to guide the island, a trusteeship, to sovereignty after a century of Spanish, German, Japanese and American jurisdiction, a challenge he relished.He was enlisted by associates to guide the island, a trusteeship, to sovereignty after a century of Spanish, German, Japanese and American jurisdiction, a challenge he relished.
“It was Athens in the time of Pericles,” he recalled.“It was Athens in the time of Pericles,” he recalled.
Mr. Beck did not exactly copy Peter Sellers’s playbook from the film version of “The Mouse That Roared” — in which a tiny duchy (Mr. Sellers played both the prime minister and the duchess, as well as a military leader) declares war on Washington, hoping to lose the fight and reap foreign aid — but negotiating with Washington on behalf of another minuscule nation took some guile. (His day job was as president of the Granite Broadcasting Corporation in New York, a group of television stations.)Mr. Beck did not exactly copy Peter Sellers’s playbook from the film version of “The Mouse That Roared” — in which a tiny duchy (Mr. Sellers played both the prime minister and the duchess, as well as a military leader) declares war on Washington, hoping to lose the fight and reap foreign aid — but negotiating with Washington on behalf of another minuscule nation took some guile. (His day job was as president of the Granite Broadcasting Corporation in New York, a group of television stations.)
By 1986, Palau was the only trust territory left in Micronesia. It gained its independence in 1994.By 1986, Palau was the only trust territory left in Micronesia. It gained its independence in 1994.
The gregarious Mr. Beck was gung-ho from the beginning, having recruited John Kenneth Galbraith, the economist, to advise him. Mr. Galbraith suggested that Palau’s fledgling government generate revenue by printing postage stamps.The gregarious Mr. Beck was gung-ho from the beginning, having recruited John Kenneth Galbraith, the economist, to advise him. Mr. Galbraith suggested that Palau’s fledgling government generate revenue by printing postage stamps.
Mr. Beck seized on the idea, conjured up prototypes and even approached a printer, who responded, “Call me when you are a country.”Mr. Beck seized on the idea, conjured up prototypes and even approached a printer, who responded, “Call me when you are a country.”
After Palau became one, aid from Washington helped give it the highest standard of living of any Oceanic nation, according to the United Nations.After Palau became one, aid from Washington helped give it the highest standard of living of any Oceanic nation, according to the United Nations.