"He gave us so much and for this to be taken away from him - it's unreal," said Taura Stinson."
"He always had idioms, he said, 'if you stay ready, you ain't got to get ready,'" Stinson said."
"He was one of a few teachers who'd listen to my song when they were written on a gum wrapper. I'm like, it goes like this, nah, nah, nah. Some silly little song but he'd say, 'Taura that is so great,'" Stinson added."
"I needed tough love and direction, coach Beam provided that for me," said Damon Owens."
John Beam taught P.E. at Frick Middle School and later coached at Skyline High School. He mentored students and athletes, offering encouragement, tough love, and ongoing personal support. Taura Stinson credits Beam with listening to her early songs and offering consistent praise, calling her "superstar" in texts and checking in on her career. Damon Owens credits Beam with providing guidance when he faced academic failure and was close to dropping out. Community members and former players are offering tributes and mourning Beam's death, emphasizing the loss of a longtime mentor who shaped lives in Oakland.
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
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