David George Beckwith, 78, of Bethlehem passed away Thursday, July 3, 2025, at Kirkland Village, Bethlehem. He was born on November 7, 1946, in Gloversville, NY to the late Albert Edwin Beckwith and Beverly Jean Chase Beckwith. David was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and great uncle. David graduated from Gloversville High Scholl in upstate NY and received his BS degree, master's degree and PhD from Lehigh University, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Society. After graduation he worked as a Clinical Microbiologist at St. Luke’s Hospital for 15 years. David moved to the Lehigh Valley Health Network in 1987 and held several Administrator and Vice President positions within the network. In 1994 he was appointed Vice President of Network Laboratory Services and charged with laboratory/pathology design with the objective of cost reduction, innovation and technical development of molecular testing to meet the needs of an advanced and expert medical staff. Simultaneously David and his Executive Group presented the Health Network Laboratories Board with a proposal to spin out Laboratory and Pathology services and establish a for-profit limited partnership. On December 7, 1997, David was appointed President and CEO of Health Network Laboratories (now HNL Lab Medicine). David retired on December 31, 2011, after being designated "Founder of HNL"
David is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Carol Hildabrant Beckwith, son, Matthew Beckwith and his wife, Patricia Karedis, daughter, Ashley Beckwith Gruver and her husband Chad Gruver, three grandchildren, Rowan and Hannah Gruver and Stassi Beckwith. He is also survived by his sister, Nancy Beckwith Walrath and her husband, Mark Walrath, three nieces and several great nieces and nephews, cousins, and a stepbrother Roger Kessler.
David’s community service was largely related to public health or infectious diseases. He was appointed as Chairman of the Bethlehem Board of Health, a position he held for 33 years. He was appointed to the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee in Microbiology, served on the board of Miller Memorial Blood Center and was a founder and member of the Executive Committee of Lehigh Valley AIDS Task Force and Pool Trust Grant Administrator for AIDSNET.
Music was a major part of David’s life. He was active in his childhood church choir and his high school choir. He successfully auditioned for the Lehigh University Glee Club and sang minor roles in the University’s staged productions. David also had lead roles in Oklahoma and Showboat in community playhouses in PA and NY, He enjoyed several seasons at The Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Upon graduation from Lehigh David auditioned for The Bach Choir of Bethlehem and sang with them for 26 years, was President of the Board of the choir for 10 years and to date Emeritus Board member.
This obituary was taken in part from Pearson Funeral Home, Inc., published in July 2, 2025.