Carl Thomas Beaudry

Carl Thomas Beaudry, age 55, of Fort Washington, MD, passed away unexpectedly September 27, 2019, at home with his family. His untimely passing made us realize just how many things we promised to do together but put off until another day, including a tutorial on his new technology set up for the television, which the bereaved are now unable to turn on without him.

Carl was born to Brunnell Wilfred (“Jerry”) Beaudry and Henriette Corinne Beaudry (Tetreault) on April 8, 1964 in Des Moines, IA. Rounding out the family of four was Carl’s brother, Paul Joseph Beaudry (August 10, 1961), who preceded Carl in both life and death.

He was baptized in All Saints parish and attended All Saints Elementary School in the Des Moines northside neighborhood of Highland Park. He was an exemplary student, a reluctant altar boy, and perennial favorite of even the toughest nuns, given his mature vocabulary, angelic smile, and rebel heart.

Carl was an avid debater his entire life, willing to go to great lengths to prove he was right by marshalling his incredible wit, voluminous knowledge, and ability to woo his opponents with words – whether discussing politics, finance, quantum physics, or the proper way to squeeze a toothpaste tube (from the bottom up). He happily shared this passion for argumentation with his debate partners and those he coached at Dowling High School and Washington High School. That same passion extended to countless co-workers, friends, family, and any telemarketer with the great misfortune to get Carl on the phone.

His lifelong love affair with electronics and generous technical support of his friends at all hours was fostered by his dad who bought him his first computer – a TRS-80 that still resides in his family’s basement. He honed his skills at the University of Iowa where he had a student job with the Engineering Department and a position as the University representative for a collaboration with Apple Computer, Inc. providing technical support for the University of Iowa and U.I. Hospitals and Clinics.

Combining his love of politics and technology, Carl moved to Washington, D.C. in 1988 to take a job in the United States Senate as Technical Staff Assistant to Senator Tom Daschle. Finding new ways to use his technical acumen to help others, he became the Systems Manager at Georgetown University Hospitals/National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health followed by a position administering the computing services at Swarthmore College. He subsequently returned to Washington to spend a decade at the Universities Space Research Association as their Information Systems Manager and IT Security Officer, before cyber security was cool. It brought Carl great satisfaction to receive the USRA Highlights of Achievements book celebrating their 50th Anniversary earlier this year and great pride to have been part of those accomplishments.

Always ahead of the market and eager to help Melissa spend the recruiting bonus, Carl joined her at SRA International as a Senior Cyber Security Solutions Architect, a role in which he was unparalleled. He made many friends along the way while supporting the newly formed Department of Homeland Security and later, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

After a brief tenure as Cyber Security Architect for the US Federal Government at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Carl put the needs of his family first and moved to the MITRE Corporation, significantly increasing his proximity to Max’s school (Congressional) and returning to support the Department of Homeland Security as Lead Cyber Security Architect. While at MITRE, Carl received his Master of Science degree in the Management of Information Technology from the University of Virginia and also convinced Max that part of his work at MITRE included building Max a robotic exoskeleton just like the one worn by Iron Man. After confessing that there was no exoskeleton, Carl took what was to be his last position as Senior Cyber Security Architect at CGI Federal, in the same business unit that Melissa had occupied months before. He was embraced on his own merits for his warmth, humor, intellect and ability to put up with Melissa.

Outside of work, Carl was a foodie, an amateur radio enthusiast, an adventure traveler, a scuba diver, fan of British humor, a proud liberal, formidable intellectual adversary, unwavering friend, faithful brother, loving husband, devoted father, and all around renaissance man.

Carl is survived by his son, Maxton Beaudry, his wife, Melissa Houghton and their faithful dog Niko, who continues to patiently wait in the kitchen for daddy to come home and open the cheese drawer.

In the words of James Acaster, a comedian Carl and Max both enjoyed, “You’ve been cabbaged,” and more appropriately:
“…[A] lot of people will say, at the top of the conversation, have a good ice-breaker. What they won’t tell you, at the end of the conversation, UN-break the ice. You don’t want anyone else sweeping in, taking advantage of all the lovely little ice cubes YOU’VE created. So freeze it over again before you leave. Just as you’re leaving, just slide something under the fence like “death comes to us all”. Something like that.”

Stories will be told at Carl’s expense from 2-4 on Sunday, October 13, 2019 at Cunningham Turch Funeral Home, 811 Cameron Street, Alexandria VA. A reception will be held directly afterward at a nearby venue to be announced at the end of the service. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Carl’s name to your local no kill shelter or a charity of your choice that reminds you of your time with Carl.