Death of a Beech Tree

Our Beech Tree has been dying for a while. We didn't want to face it. The tree was the reason we bought this house in the first place. We've had hot, dry summers the past few years, combined with some construction on the street and rebuilding the deck. The arborist came out today and looked at the tree and delivered the bad news: Take it down.
This is what it used to look like, large and majestic, towering over the house:

Here's what it looks like now:

It feels like we are losing a friend.