Beck Murray Shultz died on February 1st in Burlington, Vermont where he resided. His presumed cause of death was the choice of freedom over increasing disease through the moving waters of the Winooski River under a nearly full moon. He was twenty nine years old.

Beck was born the youngest of four children into a loving family, living at the time in Minneapolis, Minnesota to parents Patty and Ned Shultz. When he came home from the hospital, and ever after, he was doted on by his parents and older siblings, Rainbow, Ted and Forest. He was the adored baby of the family. Beck was born with a sweet disposition and mischievous smile, and from the very beginning, Beck’s eyes sparkled with a spirit engaged in kindness, humor and wit.

Beck moved east with his family, and after a brief stay in New Hampshire, moved across the Connecticut River to his beloved Vermont. He then grew up in a log cabin on a hill with a view of Norwich, Vermont. He attended Marion Cross Elementary School from kindergarten through sixth grade before crossing the river to Richmond Middle School and Hanover High School. During his childhood, Beck embraced the soul and fiber of Vermont- he rode his bike recklessly with friends to swimming holes. He played sports with determination. He caught poison ivy almost every summer. He laughed with the beauty of the natural world and at humor around him in its many faces. He had close friends with whom he shared his love of life. In turn, we, Beck’s friends and family loved him deeply and well. We loved his animated nature, his lively sense of humor, his compelling and playful smile. He was a person who attracted people and he was fearless in his love of life. We appreciated his audacity and courage, his ability to ski off of ski jumps, and push the limits in every aspect of his world. To us, to the world, he was brave and endearing.

Beck moved with his parents to Nashville, Tennessee for the last two years of High School. After briefly attending two years of college in Bozeman, Montana, he found his calling as a visual artist and completed college at The Appalachian Center for Arts and Crafts. During this time, Beck was diagnosed with the treacherous and staggeringly difficult disease, Schizophrenia. It robbed him of his animated nature, though never of his courage, his sweetness nor his inner charm. For a decade, Beck fought against a disease that attempted to destroy his ability to live, yet all the while that he fought, he became more aware and more dedicated to those who also struggled in this life. Although Beck lost the ability to throw back his head in a belly laugh, he gained empathy for others. As a result, Beck grew to care for people who struggled around the world and acted in his own ways accordingly. He worked to help people around him with a sweetness that quietly surprised all that he touched. During this time, Beck continued making music and art, and gave away all that he made. He moved to his home, Vermont, and found work helping adolescents, people with disabilities and senior citizens. He joined the Catholic Church, St. Stephens, where he found a community that was also caring, and was confirmed in 2006. Although the disease that laid claim to much of Beck’s life continued to cause him to struggle, he continued to give back to so many around him. He created music that others could hear and share. He spoke quietly with children and listened to them. He gave away gifts to those around him with a remarkable selflessness noted by all he knew. Beck’s spirit never stopped shining with the truth and bravery that he gave to his life. He was deeply loved by many and will continue to be so.