AUBURN – John M. Beale, 96, of Shepley Street, died of natural causes July 27, 2010, at his residence. He was born May 26, 1914, in Eastport, the only child of William C. and Eunice (Mower) Beale. He graduated in 1930 from Shead Memorial High School, Eastport, as valedictorian of his class. He then graduated from Hebron Academy in 1931 and Bowdoin College in 1935. Mr. Beale was employed by the then-new Social Security Administration in 1936, working first in the Portland office and then in Bangor. In early 1940 he was appointed district manager of the newly created Lewiston Social Security district office, a position which he held until his retirement in 1973. On June 13, 1940, he married the former Evelyn C. Welch of Bangor. The couple were the parents of four sons, Stephen, James, Thomas and Michael. Mr. and Mrs. Beale resided in the same house on Shepley Street in Auburn until Mrs. Beale’s death, April 30, 2008, and Mr. Beale continued in that residence until his death. Mr. Beale was active in community affairs. He was a former member of Central Maine Medical Center Board of Trustees, and served as chairman and member of several committees of that board in the late 1970s and 1980s. In 1974 Mr. Beale was chairman of Central Maine General Hospital – St. Mary’s Joint Hospital Fund Campaign, which at the time, was deemed one of the largest and most successful capital fund appeals conducted in this area. For that work he received a special award from Lewiston-Auburn Chamber of Commerce. For many years he was active as a volunteer in United Way and its predecessor organizations. He served the United Way in a number of capacities, including that of campaign chairman. He also served as its interim executive director on one occasion when the United Way was suddenly without an executive director. He served several terms as a trustee of Auburn Public Library, including a term as vice president of the board. He was a longtime member of the Bowdoin Club of Androscoggin County, serving as president among other offices. Captain of the swim team while at Bowdoin College, Mr. Beale continued his interest in competitive swimming after graduation and served as coach of the Edward Little High School swim team from 1944 to 1962, although he was never a member of the Edward Little High School teaching faculty. In his retirement years Mr. Beale enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities, including vegetable gardening, working in his woodlot and at Prince Farm Orchard, Turner. Mr. Beale is survived by three sons, Stephen P. Beale and his wife, Laurie Gibson, of Durham, Thomas J. Beale and his wife, Jean, of Bangor and Michael J. Beale and his wife, Kate, of Holden; five grandchildren, Andrea, Martin, David, Moira and Jonathan Beale; and two great-grandchildren, Alexander Beale and Arnica Beale. He was predeceased by his wife, Evelyn, in 2008; and by a son, James W. Beale, in 1994. Family and friends are invited to visit 4-7 p.m. Friday at Dillingham & Son Memorial Chapel & Tribute Center, 62 Spring St., Auburn. A Mass of Christian burial honoring John’s life will be celebrated 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Philip’s Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. Graveside committal prayers will be after at Mount Auburn Cemetery. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.
JOHN M. BEALE
