Fritz Beebe was born in Utica, New York to Harry R. Beebe, a civil engineer, and Mertice Beebe. He spent most of his early years in Utica. In 1931 he matriculated at Dartmouth College graduating in 1935 and later attended Yale Law School where he received his degree in 1938. While at Yale he was selected as an editor of The Law Journal. In May 1943 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
When The Washington Post purchased Newsweek in 1961, Beebe handled all of the details of the acquisition. After completion of the transaction Phil Graham, owner of the company, asked Beebe to accept the position of Chairman of the Board of the Washington Post Company and oversee Newsweek from New York. He accepted the offer and resigned from the law firm.[3]
Beebe died on May 1, 1973, at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City.[1] The cause of death was intestinal cancer. He is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery near Tarrytown, New York.
