Russell Beck

Russell Joseph Beck (21 February 1941 – 10 February 2018) was a New Zealand archaeologist, museum curator, and artist. He has three children, one of whom is Peter Beck, founder of aerospace company Rocket Lab.

He had a wide interest in science which was developed at secondary school. He developed an interest in geology when aged 10 or 11 when digging a long-drop toilet at the family's crib (holiday home) in Te Anau, and took up astronomy and built a six-inch reflecting telescope which formed the basis of a home observatory, followed in 1959 by a 12-inch Cassegrain telescope which he later donated to the Southland Museum and Art Gallery and installed in the observatory constructed in 1972.

Beck helped to establish a restricted area in the Mount Aspiring National Park, which is now a (protected area), to protect iwi access to pounamu deposits. Some of his jade sculptures are held in Dowse Art Museum collections.

Honours In the 2000 New Year Honours, Beck was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to art and local history.