Dave Begel, who died March 3 at age 82, did not go through life quietly.
The twists and turns of his singular path meant he had a story to tell for every situation, said his brother Dan Begel, whether it was about working as a sportswriter, representing the Milwaukee Public Schools, or playing rhythm guitar.
And in retirement, Begel loved to sit on his front porch on Milwaukee’s east side, chatting with neighbors about their lives and telling stories about his own. He even installed a portable fireplace so he could stay warm out there in the winter months, his brother said.
Begel was “super gregarious,” his brother said. “He loved people, he loved to talk, he loved to get to know people. And he cared deeply about people.”
He was known to be tender and warm, and also colorful, brash, and opinionated.
“He felt things deeply and he didn’t always have command of his feelings,” Dan Begel said.
His brother remembers that once, while Begel was working as a sports reporter for the Milwaukee Journal, he couldn’t get a comment from Milwaukee Bucks coach Don Nelson. He met the Bucks’ plane at the airport and lay down in front of Nelson, saying, “Nellie, you’re going to have to walk over me or give me the story” – so the tale goes.
Begel’s contentious relationship with Bart Starr while the Hall of Famer coached the Green Bay Packers became legendary. Sportswriter Jason Wilde wrote in 2008 that, back in the day, Starr banned Begel from practice, accusing him of tipping off opponents. Begel refused to stop showing up. He would arrive earlier than everyone else so he could park his car right next to the practice field, stand on the roof of his car, and use binoculars to watch practice.
Starr had Begel marched out of a news conference as well, said Mike Juley, Begel’s editor at the Milwaukee Journal from 1984 to 1986. Juley handled his “Leave it to Begel” columns.
“Starr announced to all the sportswriters who were there that he was not going to have a press conference unless (Begel) left,” Juley said.
But that’s the mark of a good journalist, Juley said, “someone who holds people accountable.”
Begel’s personality stood out through jobs as a journalist, columnist, spokesman, television personality, communications consultant to the New York superintendent, campaign manager for two Wisconsin candidates for governor, and, for a short time in the 1990s, car salesman.
His brother remembers him as compassionate with a good heart who was always sticking up for underdogs, like classmates with disabilities and Milwaukee residents in need.
In 2017, while Begel was working as an Uber driver – yes, add that to the job list as well – he gave a ride to a single mom without a car. Then, struck by her story, he helped raise thousands of dollars so she could buy one.
Begel graduated from Whitefish Bay High School and then attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh for a short time before leaving to join the Navy. He was stationed in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. He studied at UW-Milwaukee upon returning and got a job as a sportswriter out of college.
In the mid-60s, Begel met his wife, Susan Goodnow, at a party at his brother’s house. She decided to follow him to the Philippines after only three dates, Begel said in a recent Facebook post. The two were married more than 55 years, Dan Begel said. Susan died three years ago. After her death, Begel found comfort in the Catholic faith after years of being nonreligious.
Outside of work, Begel was in a cover rock band named Granite – after Wisconsin’s state rock. Begel played guitar and sang, and his great memory for lyrics extended to his memory of bits of dialogue, which enriched the stories he was always telling, his brother said.
“He liked to entertain, he liked to inform,” Dan Begel said. “He liked to plumb the world for information.”
Some of the musicians from Granite will be performing at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 1001 E. Locust St., at 2 p.m. March 15 as part of a memorial service for Begel.
Begel is survived by his daughters, Emily (Brian Bodendein) and Alli (Bret Seymour); his sister, Amy; his brother, Dan; and four grandchildren, Charlie, Alex, Molly and Casey.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Dave Begel, colorful Milwaukee media figure, always had stories to tell
Reporting by Sophie Carson and Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
