Beverly Dunham Scheremeta

1942 - 2016

SCHEREMETA - Beverly Dunham died Thursday, December 1, 2016 after a long illness in Smithtown, Long Island, where she had resided for the past 5 years. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri on February 19, 1942 to Stephen and Betty (Seay) Hawes. At age 8, the family moved to Long Island-first to Roslyn and then to Huntington. After High School, she attended colleges in New Hampshire and in Missouri and then finally in New York City at NYU. At college, she met Stephen J. Scheremeta, a New York City police officer, and after a brief romance, they were married in 1964. They settled in Huntington Township and had two children. For several years, she worked for an optometrist in Huntington fitting contact lenses. Later, she gained employment with PTN Publishing in Woodbury as an Advertising Production Manager and then with CMP Publications in print production. Following a divorce, she enjoyed a relationship for many years with Guy Beach from Wallingford, CT but were never married. While at CMP, Beverly was stricken with multiple sclerosis and was forced to leave her job. Her progressive illness in many ways defined the latter part of her life. Beverly was smart and outspoken and a champion of civil and women's rights. She was also known for her sharp wit and dry sense of humor and her love of animals. She is predeceased by her husband and survived by her brothers James S. Hawes and John O. Hawes; her two children, daughter Stacey H. Boyle and son Stephen J. Scheremeta; granddaughter Kathryn A. Scheremeta; and grandsons Evan J. Boyle, Brandon T. Boyle, & Dylan P. Boyle. Funeral arrangements are private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the North Shore Animal League. A memorial service will be held later to celebrate her life.