Stephen Peter Beal

Stephen Peter Beal, 68, passed away on Friday, June 16, 2017 at his home in Old Wethersfield, CT, after a two year battle with cancer. He was the son of Harold Mumby Beal and Mary Hussey Beal Squires. Stephen had fond memories of growing up on Whitney and Gilbert Roads in the heart of the UCONN campus where his father was a professor of Pharmacy. After graduating from E.O. Smith, he went on to earn a B.S. at SCSC and a MS at CCSC in Special Education. Most of his 35 year teaching career was spent in the Bristol school system where he worked with students on all grade/age levels. Often, he maintained relationships with students and their parents well beyond graduation. Outside the classroom, Stephen was and expert fly fisherman and white water kayaker. He was a member and president of the Farmington River Club for a number of years, where he developed lasting friendships. He spent countless hours with his brother, Michael, wandering the valley of the Fenton River monitoring the wood turtle and black racer populations and searching for Native American artifacts. After Michael's death in 2015, Stephen became involved with Friends of the State Archeologist (FOSA) just as his own health began to decline. He was a voracious reader of history with an amazing memory for detail. Stephen is survived by his wife, Alexandra Mikan Beal, his daughter, Chloe Beal, Philip and Doreen Mikan of East Hartland, Matthew and Maria Mikan of Cromwell, Lucy and Brian Andrews of York, ME, Robert Beal of New London, Richard and Diane Squires of Miami, FL, Robert and Deborah Squires of Stewart, FL, and Stephen Squires of Mansfield. He leaves grandchildren, Georgia and Grace Mikan, and Andrew and Marisa Mikan, and nieces, Jennifer Andrews Demaree, Gabrielle and Bridget Beal, and nephew, Peter Andrews. The family would particularly like to thank Dr. Jessica Clement and the nurses and staff of the UConn Oncology Department, as well as visiting nurses, Helene and Eve. Their competence and warmth brought us through these difficult two years. Special thanks also to Stephen's dear friends, Richard Jansen, Craig Kolk, and Bob LeMere. A memorial service will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Harold M. Beal Scholarship Fund at the School of Pharmacy. Infromation can be found through the UConn Foundation website: foundation.uconn.edu.