Theodore Ralph “Buddy” Beiser, a native and lifelong resident of Fairhope, died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011. He was 90 years old.
Buddy was born in Fairhope on Feb. 23, 1921 and was the youngest child of Felix and Rosa Beiser. He grew up in the family home, Englewood Villa, which is now the campus of First Baptist Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Marita Brueggemann Beiser; and his siblings Elsa “Ricki” Redditt, Carl William Beiser, Dorothy “Mama Dot” Cain, Helen E. Hunter and Elizabeth Zadnichek.
He was a graduate of the Marietta Johnson School of Organic Education.
He is survived by his daughter, Melanie Jean Beiser, of Fairhope; his son, Paul (Carolyn) Beiser; and grandchildren, Alison Vivienne Beiser and Kevin Theodore Beiser of Fort Collins, Colo., and many other family and friends.
Buddy was an avid outdoorsman and loved to fish in Mobile Bay, hunt and play golf. He helped found the city of Fairhope’s Quail Creek Golf course and played golf there for many years.
In 2005, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources named the T.R. Buddy Beiser Reef, an Alabama Inshore Fishing Reef near Montrose, in his honor. He was a lifetime active member of the Fairhope Yacht Club.
He was among the many courageous young men who served in World War II. Lt Theodore R. Beiser was a B-17 bomber pilot with the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomber Group (Hell’s Angels), Eighth Air Force, Army Air Corps stationed in Molesworth, England. He flew 37 successful bombing missions during the war and also served as a pilot instructor and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oakleaf Cluster and Airforce Medal with 3 Oakleaf Clusters.
After the war, Buddy worked in Fairhope, at Brookley Air Force Base, and as a quality control inspector for NASA in Florida during the height of the race to the moon.
Mr. Beiser will be remembered as a kind and honorable man, a wonderful father, a good friend and a happy person who loved his family and the outdoors. He will be greatly missed.
Donations in Mr. Beiser’s name can be made to the Alabama Wildlife Federation for Restoration of the Buddy Beiser Fishing Reef.
His family would like to thank the staff and the wonderful caregivers at Fairhope Health and Rehabilitation for their support and kindness.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes and Crematory Inc., Fairhope.
