Ralph Beck first came to CRMS in the summer of 1970 through a family connection with Wells Kerr, a former faculty member and his father’s dean at Exeter. After his older brother attended CRMS briefly before being diagnosed with cancer, Ralph’s father believed the school would be a good place for an unfocused young teen. Ralph tried summer school and fell in love with the program.

He attended CRMS from 1970 to 1973. Though never a strong academic performer, Ralph learned how to learn and not be intimidated by teachers. He found success in drama and horseback riding rather than soccer, learned to ski (especially cross country, which he still does today), and helped build the old science building and rewire the barn. As a dorm head, he worked to help other students.

After graduating from CRMS, Ralph attended Beloit College in Wisconsin, where his newfound learning skills led to academic success. He earned a double major in Government and English Composition in 1977, then worked as an admissions counselor at Beloit for two years. He went on to earn an MBA with a finance concentration from Washington University in Saint Louis (1979-1981) and gained certificates in Capital Markets, conflict resolution, Quality Management, Negotiation, and Mediation.

Ralph worked in commercial banking in Chicago from 1981 to 1998 before starting his own consulting practice focused on creating productive conflict, decision making, strategic planning, and organizational change. He is now retiring from this practice.

Born in 1955 in Washington DC, Ralph grew up in New Hampshire, Virginia, Rye (NY), and Lincoln, Nebraska before coming to CRMS. He married Elizabeth Goodbody, whom he met at Beloit, in 1982. They have three children: Daniel (now engaged), Michael, and Madeline (married). Madeline and her husband Evan gave them a grandson, Callum, last year.

Ralph has been active in nonprofit work as a Boy Scout troop leader, theatre board member, and with The Mikva Challenge, which engages high school students in political involvement. He served on the CRMS Board of Trustees from 1997-2006 and 2015-2018, including roles as vice president, president, and capital campaign chair. He also served on development and finance committees.

“CRMS engaged my mind with the ideas of trying and being willing to fail and try again, that not being perfect or not the best is okay,” Ralph says. “It is about the journey and what you learn from it. Where else could I get a full college prep, ride horses, climb, play organized sports, camp, cook, make jewelry, act—just about anything the school offered I could try. It was an incredible opportunity. I only wish for others to have the same.”

As a trustee Ralph consistently demonstrated his deep belief in the value of the full program, including and in particular the work program and the personal responsibility that each student gains from caring for our land and buildings.  That emotional connection to the power and influence the program can have on young adults was balanced by a commitment to strategic thinking and ensuring mission alignment in all our program areas.  Ralph is a strong advocate for promoting soil health and the self-sufficiency of the school through our land stewardship.   During my time, through Ralph’s leadership we have been able to significantly expand our agricultural footprint with a garden expansion that quadrupled the amount of land under production.