Allen Edwards BEACH 

Died at age 86, September 25th at his home in Seattle.
He was born April 24, 1919 to Everett and Lola Edwards
Beach. Allen grew up in the Wallingford area and
graduated in the class of '38 from Lincoln H.S. where
he had frequent leads in operettas and plays and was a
member of the Chanters (Carl Pitzer's chorus). He
earned two BAs at the University of Washington. His
major in Far Eastern studies and Japanese language led
to his being among an elite group of 150 chosen for
the first U.S. Army Special Military Intelligence
intensive study program at the University of Michigan.
He married Mary Carter in 1942. They began their 64
year marriage in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Commissioned at
Fort Snelling, Minnesota in '43 he was in the battles
of Leyte and Okinawa during WWII as well as serving in
Korea. Allen's illustrious career began with the
Seattle Chamber of Commerce. As manager of World
Trade, Marketing and Transportation Departments he
participated in organizing the first West Coast
Japanese Mayors' Conference and went on to be General
Manager of the third Washington State International
Trade Fair. With the creation of the U.S. Department
of Commerce Office of International Trade Fairs, Allen
managed U.S. trade fairs in Indonesia, Cambodia,
Thailand and Japan. In '57, at the request of the U.S.
State Department, he accepted a commission to
coordinate building and operations of the U.S.
pavilion at the Brussels World's Fair. After a special
assignment with the '59 Tokyo International Trade
Fair, he returned to Seattle as Managing Director of
the Century 21 Exposition (the 1962 Seattle World's
Fair). Upon completion of its initial planning he left
Seattle to accept an appointment to Direct the
International Division of the'64-'65 New York World's
Fair. His part in creating the popular Belgian Village
exhibit at the NY fair earned him an Honorary
Knighthood from King Baudouin of Belgium. Allen went
on to promote a private exhibit at the Osaka
international expo, direct U.S. participation at major
expos in Okinawa Japan, Knoxville Tenn., Tsukuba,
Japan and serve as consultant for many others
including a stint with the International Executives
Service Corps. After settling back in Seattle, Allen
was asked to consult on the site selection of the
Tacoma Dome. He also turned his energies to the
establishment of a Foundation dedicated to re-organize
and enhance the residential campus and services for
Mentally Retarded citizens living at the Fircrest
School in north Seattle where his youngest daughter
resides. Allen derived great joy and pleasure being at
his old family home in Port Townsend, built by his
grandparents over a century ago. After constant travel
he was always happy to be back in the Northwest. He is
survived by his wife Mary, daughters Candace Braley
and Carolyn Beach, grandson Edward Allen Braley,
brother in-law Richard Adams and nephew Guy Adams and
several cousins. He was preceded in death by his
sister Doris Beach Adams. At his request there will be
no funeral. A private internment will be at Laurel
Grove Cemetery in Port Townsend, WA. In lieu of
flowers donations may be made to Friends of Fircrest,
c/o Fircrest School, 15230 15th Ave. NE, Shoreline WA
98155. 

Published in print on 10/2/2005. 
Seattle Times