James Tossey Beck, Jr., 58, of Fernandina Beach, passed away on June 27, 2020 at his home after a short illness. He is survived by his mother Maureen Beck of Fernandina Beach and his brother Stephen of Ohio. He was predeceased by his father James T. Beck and brother Andrew. He was affectionately known as Jimmy to all of his friends.

Jimmy was a career federal employee, working in financial management and auditing for the Army, the Defense Contract Audit Agency, the Coast Guard, and finally the Navy before recently retiring. He received an accounting degree from Rider University in New Jersey and a Masters degree from Syracuse University, where he had been selected for the very prestigious Army Comptrollership Program. Jimmy gained a reputation as a very cheerful and dedicated worker who ensured quick and detailed completion of whatever task or audit he was leading, and earning the nickname �the steamroller� by his co-workers and audit clients. He captured what he thought was his best career trait into his own email address, which was �sense of urgency�, though it left his bemused supervisors and co-workers wondering when Jimmy would ever actually slow down enough to begin thinking and working at normal human speed.

Jimmy had a big and warm personality, and was a natural comedian who delighted his many friends and co-workers with his funny personal stories and hilarious misadventures. He always wanted to ensure that he was providing �great entertainment value� to his friends. He loved nothing better than a long conversation, and he always kept up with his many friends scattered across the country with interesting discussions about baseball, football, old movies, and the stock market. Jimmy had amazing talents, including cooking, mathematics, a photographic memory, and also as a pianist, winning music competitions as a child and teenager. It wouldn�t be a stretch to say that Jimmy was a true genius, who could have provided much more to the world if not for the tragic illness which took his life much too soon.

Jimmy was a very caring and considerate person who deeply loved his family and his large circle of friends. He was an especially devoted son to his beloved mother Maureen. When she began needing continuous assistance, he moved her from the family home on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, to Fernandina Beach so that he could closely monitor her care and visit her daily. Jimmy will be very sadly missed by his many friends who he considered the same as family, including Leigh and Mary Lou, John L., Art, Terry, Scott, Ed, John M. and Jeff, and his many colleagues from his recent Navy days in the Jacksonville area.

Jimmy will be buried in his favorite place, Nantucket Island, where he said he had spent the best summers of his life. Though in true Jimmy fashion, he had actually spent those summers working enormous hours each week as a chef at an upscale restaurant in Nantucket, which he of course considered to be hugely fun and entertaining, and the absolute best use of his time. Services are planned for a later date.