Philanthropist Marianna Kistler Beach (b. November 24, 1919) died at her Lawrence, Kansas home on Nov. 1, 2014.
Beach was a 1941 graduate of Kansas State University. An ardent supporter of the arts, she was instrumental in convincing her husband Ross to provide the lead gift for the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art in commemoration of their 50th anniversary. Other gifts to the university include the Ross Beach chair for mass communications.
“Marianna Kistler Beach was a woman of vision, character, and grace. Her passing is mourned by the staff and supporters of the Beach Museum of Art, and by the entire Kansas State University family,” said Linda Duke, the Beach Museum of Art’s Director. “All of us have benefited from the generosity and dedication of Marianna and Ross Beach. Their legacy is an inspiration for our work to celebrate the arts and creativity of this prairie state and region.”
A celebration of Marianna Kistler Beach’s life will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014 at the K-State Alumni Center. A reception will follow at the Beach Museum of Art on the Kansas State University campus.
For more information on Marianna Kistler Beach’s life and legacy visit: http://www.warrenmcelwain.com/obituary/marianna-kistler-beach
For questions about the Celebration of Life program, contact the Beach Museum of Art at 785-532-7718.
