Obituary of Miftar Beio
Miftar Beio, a 32 year resident of Masten Lake, NY, passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 21, 2021. He was 94 years old. Mr. Beio was born on February 7, 1927 in Acushnet, MA to Baryame and Veisel Beio. Miftar served his country in the US Army during WWII in Germany.
His family moved to the Lower East Side of New York City when Miftar was a young boy. To help his family make ends meet, he sold apples and shopping bags on the streets of NYC, then shined shoes on street corners as he got older. He attended and graduated from Manhattan High School for Aviation Trades. After graduation he went to work for Bolsey Camera and then the Bulova Watch Company, where he was fortunate to be mentored by some brilliant coworkers who guided him to became a self taught electrical design engineer. At Bolsey Camera, he was tasked with working alongside Dr. Edwin Land to develop a flash attachment for the first Polaroid Land camera. Dr. Land bought the copyright of the final design from Miftar for the sum of $1.
After marrying his childhood sweetheart, Helen in 1951, they moved out to Long Island to raise their family. Mr. Beio, along with 2 partners, went on to found SBD Electronic Systems, a custom power supply company, in Amityville, NY serving as its President. During his more than 25 years there, Miftar designed power supplies for the aerospace industry, NASA’s LEM, the USAF’s B52 and F16, the NYC Fire Department’s first relay alarm system among others. Upon his retirement, Miftar and Helen left Long Island behind and moved to Masten Lake to be near family. A retired life of fishing in summer, and once the lake froze over, he spent winters ice skating circles around the younger generation on both the lake and at local ice rinks well into his 80’s.
Throughout his life, “Pop” as he was affectionately known, was an avid participant, instructor, supporter, volunteer and spectator of Drum and Bugle Corps. He started this journey in Drum Corps as a teenager when he joined the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Post #1197, where he quickly learned to play the snare drum. From that point on, he was hooked. After his stint in the Army, he joined the RA Gabarina American Legion Post #1523 NY Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corps in 1947, where he was one of the original magnificent 8 member snare line. He played in the Skyliners drum line for 6 years. Years later, wearing his signature bucket hat, Pop began his drum instruction career which spanned decades, and touched the lives of hundreds of young people along the way. Besides teaching them percussion, he also guided so many of those youngsters to make good life choices.
But the one thing he was most proud of in his life, was the family that he and his devoted wife Helen, who predeceased him on July 27, 2020, raised, nurtured and supported. Miftar is survived by his son Daniel Beio and wife Deborah of Sun City West, AZ, his daughter Janet Benson and husband Wayne of Masten Lake, NY, grandchildren David Beio of Plantation, FL, Jennifer Jones of Kamas, UT, Matthew and Wendy Beio of Lincoln, NE, Heather Fassell and husband Thomas of Masten Lake, NY, Allison Sage and husband Russell of Latham, NY and Bradley Benson of Masten Lake, NY, and great-grandchildren Lucas Beio, William Fassell, Melanie Fassell, Riley Sage and Avery Sage. Miftar is survived by his brother Matthew Beio and wife Victoria of Old Bethpage, NY, and was predeceased by his parents, his dear wife Helen, brother Nevrus Beio, half-sister Hava Ali, and half-brother Buzz Morrison.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 111 Sullivan Street in Wurtsboro from 11:00am -12:00pm, with a service at 12:00pm. Burial will immediately follow at Sylvan Cemetery, Route 209, Wurtsboro, NY. The family would like to thank Dr. Jonathan Weiss of Monticello, NY and Achieve Rehab and Nursing Facility in Liberty, NY for all the kindness, care and compassion shown to Miftar during his final days. We are so grateful to you all.
Memorial donations may be made in Miftar’s name to Community Church of Wurtsboro Food Pantry, P.O. Box 487, Wurtsboro, NY 12790.
Arrangements are made under the direction of Van Inwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 111 Sullivan St, Wurtsboro, NY, 12790. For additional information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.kennyfuneralhome.com