The Sandy Beach Collection

A chronological collection of talks by Sandy Beach (AA, AFG) of Tampa Florida

Sandy B a.k.a. Richard J. “Sandy” Beach (9 Sept 1931 – 28 Sept 2014)  passed on Sunday, September 28, 2014 in an AA meeting while reading from Step 1 in the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. On December 7, 1964 (Pearl Harbor Day) Sandy stopped drinking and began a deep and lasting belief in the spiritual power of AA. Sandy became an inspired speaker in AA meetings large and small. He spoke about the principles of AA with a special blend of humor and wisdom all over the world. He created and taught an AA spiritual recovery workshop for men known as The Far Corners; true to its name, men traveled near and far to learn from Sandy who continues to have a major impact and influence on the recovery community.

Sandy's Biography (from Dignity Memorial)
He was born in New Haven, CT on Sept 9, 1931. In his early teens, he contracted Polio and while in recovery he developed a fascination with magic. Sandy went on to be a high school track and field athlete with a passion for creative writing. In 1953, he graduated from Yale University with a degree in Spanish. With his wife, Barbara Platt, he had six children, 15 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. Four of his children survive him. For over a decade, Sandy flew as a fighter pilot with the U.S. Marines. His next career was as a speech writer and lobbyist for the Credit Union National Association in Washington, DC. He retired in Tampa, FL, where he enjoyed couples dancing and volunteered as a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. On December 7, 1964 (Pearl Harbor Day) Sandy stopped drinking and began a deep and lasting belief in the spiritual power of AA. Sandy became an inspired speaker in AA meetings large and small. He spoke about the principles of AA with a special blend of humor and wisdom all over the world. He created and taught an AA spiritual recovery workshop for men known as The Far Corners; true to its name, men traveled near and far to learn from Sandy.