Retired West Chester East math teacher James Beckerich climbs the world’s tallest peaks and shares his inspiration.
Every wall in James Beckerich’s apartment is filled with prints of snow-laced mountains. Photos of swirling clouds and endless blue skies surround smiling teammates and friends in climbing gear. A red helmet and an ice ax sit nearby. The dominant feature, however, is a giant neon sign in the glowing outline of four mountain peaks.
“I was driving through Abington, my hometown. There was a sign that advertised ‘neon signs.’ I went inside with a design I’d drawn and asked them to make it.” The sign became James’ signature piece no matter where he lived. “It’s my vision, a reminder of what I do.”
James has spent the last 25 years climbing every mountain he can. The retired math teacher from West Chester East High School has made good use of his summers off, summiting 40 peaks over 14,000 feet in Colorado, and going on altitude-chasing adventures in the far corners of the world…
