David Beare

David John Beare, 60, passed away peacefully on December 27th, 2023, after a seven-month battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was born in Seattle, Washington on June 22nd, 1963 and grew up in Olympia, WA, with the same core group of friends from elementary to high school. His friend group of smart, budding classical musicians, Francophiles and dramaturgs-affectionately dubbed his "nerd herd" by his daughter-were destined to do big things beyond Olympia and David was no exception. In Washington, David also developed his lifelong relationship with the great outdoors by hiking and climbing in the Cascade and Olympic mountains. He traveled across the country to attend Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and was immediately drawn in by the Jesuits' commitment to thoughtful scholarship, servant leadership, and global outreach. This path led him to degrees from Harvard Divinity School, and Harvard Graduate School of Education, his baptism into the Catholic church as an adult, and his career path as an educator.
While starting out as a history teacher, David enjoyed teaching courses in philosophy and comparative world religions the most. He delighted in the opportunity to open students' minds to questions and possibilities that were new, complex, and intellectually invigorating. He reveled in the spirituality and humanity inherent in all religions, and delighted in the shared stories that weave through the tapestry of religious thought across cultures and continents. His students enjoyed having their minds expanded and challenged, and appreciated the deep interest he took in them and in their achievements.
David's career as an educator took him from teaching to developing and implementing new interdisciplinary curricula and leading departments in boarding schools throughout New England (Loomis Chafee, Phillips Exeter Academy, The Hotchkiss School), and at Lakeside School, a leading day school in Seattle, WA. At the height of his career, he helped to start Keystone Academy, a K-12 day and boarding school in Beijing, China, and served as head of Middlesex School in Concord, MA. Throughout his professional life, he was known to act not out of his own self-interest, but in ways that best served the needs of his students, his colleagues, and his school community.
He was a deeply thoughtful and loving person-the first to pick someone up from the airport or to drive long distances to share a special moment with a friend. As a life-long learner he was easily engaged in conversations raging from Hindu mythology to Chinese philosophy to Zadie Smith's latest novel or an offbeat piece of music heard on NPR. His interactions with others were defined by his compassion, humility, and good humor, and his personal passions included playing the cello, walking in the woods, and sharing good food and wine in the company of friends.
He is survived by his partner of 33 years, Rachael; their two children, Sarah and George; siblings Cheryl Bayle (Pat) and Ken Beare (Barbara); beloved cat, Bangs; and a host of extended family and good friends scattered around the globe.
A memorial service and mass will be held at St. Paul's Parish in Cambridge on January 27 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in David's name to Steep Rock Preserve in Washington, Connecticut (to maintain the trails he hiked most in recent years), or (for those in the US) to one's local NPR station.