Obituary of Joel Beason

Beason: Joel E. Beason, Sr. age 70, beloved husband of Susanne (Neubauer) Beason passed away on Friday morning, December 16, 2011 in Old Lyme at the home of his daughter, Wendy Gavin. He was born in Titusville, PA on October 29, 1941 the son of the late Daniel K. and Ruth (McCann) Beason. Raised in Titusville, he was a graduate of Titusville High School and was an exceptional athlete and member of the Titusville High School Hall of Fame. His academic and athletic career continued at Slippery Rock State University where he graduated with a degree in education and was a three sport athlete playing football, basketball and track. He held the University's record for the Javelin throw for a number of years. Joel received his masters degree in education at Southern Connecticut State University. He became a resident of Deep River, CT in 1972 and was the physical education teacher at the John Winthrop Junior High School for thirty years and coached football and boys and girls basketball at Valley Regional High School. He also was the assistant basketball coach from 1985 to 1988 at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London. Joel retired in 2001 and remained extremely active playing golf, softball and his love of the woods and hunting continued up until several weeks ago. Joel had resided in The Villages in Florida for the past seven years. He was a wonderful family man and was very proud of each member of his beloved family. Besides his wife Susanne whom he married in Deep River on July 1, 2005 at the First Congregational Church he leaves his children, Joel E. Beason, Jr. and his wife Grace of Kensington, NH, Wendy Gavin and her husband Tim, Leslie Wisner and her husband Scott, all of Old Lyme, CT and Gary T. Beason and his wife Sallie of Charlotte, NC., his eight beloved grandchildren, and sister, Anne Zimmerman, of Gerard, PA.. Joel was a foster father to five very special boys who include Vernon Mitchell, Rick Burns and Rodney Yearwood. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 19, 2011 at the First Congregational Church, 1 Church St. in Deep River from 3-5 pm. His memorial service will follow. Memorial contributions may be made to Pancreatic Cancer Research, c/o The Lustgarten Foundation, 1111 Stewart Ave. Beth Page, NY 11714 www.lustgarten.org . To share a memory of Joel or leave a condolence for the Beason family please visit www.rwwfh.com . Arrangements by the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook, CT