Ernest Beyl, author and celebrated San Francisco “man about town” who spent nearly two decades as a public relations official for several luxury cruise lines, died on April 10 at age 90 of an apparent heart attack. Beyl’s death came one day after he celebrated his 90th birthday and the publication of his latest book at a gathering at his favorite San Francisco restaurant.
A Marine Corps veteran, Beyl served turns as a newspaper reporter, public relations executive, press agent, freelance writer and world traveler, according to a SFGate.com obituary. He worked with movie stars, climbed mountains, attended bullfights and was a friend to several jazz music greats. Beyl had recently published his third book, “Stops Along the Royal Road,” chronicling 70 years of his travel adventures.
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Beyl enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a public relations official representing luxury cruise lines in the earliest days of the category’s development. Beyl served as public relations consultant for a number of luxury cruise lines and worked closely with his friend Larry Pimentel, who now is president and CEO at Azamara Club Cruises. Beyl helped Pimentel launch SeaDream in 2001 having earlier worked with him at Seabourn Cruise Line.
“Ernie was an old world ‘positive’ publicist who had a remarkable ability to create news,” Pimentel told TravelPulse. “He was a one-man machine who was bright, driven and very results oriented. He believed in straight talk and transparency, in one-on-one high-touch engagement with the press. Ernie was a trusted advisor and worked with me at Seabourn, Cunard, SeaDream and Azamara Club Cruises. I adored this one-man PR Titan and will miss him!”
Beyl is survived by his wife, Joan Lawson Beyl, of San Francisco; a son, Jeff Beyl of Seattle; and a daughter, Laurel Beyl of San Francisco; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
