FRYEBURG — Roger Polson Bean, 89, of Fryeburg died peacefully in his sleep at home on Sunday, April 15, 2012, after a long life well lived.
He was born in Saco on Aug. 31, 1922, the son of Catherine Polson and Roger Joel Bean. He attended local schools and graduated
from Thornton Academy in 1941. After an all too brief time at the University of Maine, he was inducted into the Air Force, where he was trained as a Weather Observer and Radio Sonde Operator, and served mainly in India and China until the end of WWII. Upon discharge in December of 1945, he returned to Maine and continued his studies at UMO, receiving a degree in Mechanical Engineering. On June 15, he married the love of his life, Marilyn Allard, and they spent nearly 65 very happy years together. Their union was blessed with a son, Joel, and a daughter, Kathryn, who were a source of great joy and pride throughout his life.
Upon graduation, he was employed by Shell Oil Company as a sales representative and later by Good Company in the same capacity. While he enjoyed the work, it necessitated several re-locations and a good deal of traveling, so in order to spend more time with his family he decided on a career change that proved serendipitous. He returned to college, ultimately earned a master’s degree in Science Education from Colby College and joined the faculty at Fryeburg Academy.
Roger often said this was the milieu for which he was meant. He enjoyed the interaction with the students and many of them in return remember him as a real gentleman who treated them with respect, cool and calm (no matter what), and a familiar figure on campus with his tweed jackets and ever-present pipe.
A lifelong fisherman and hunter, Roger fostered a love of the outdoors in his children. He developed a great interest in golf and together with the other members of his regular foursome, played every day that the weather permitted (and some days when it didn’t) at Lake Kezar Country Club. The friendships developed lasted a lifetime. He was an artist and craftsman, and could turn his hand to almost everything — a man for all seasons.
Throughout his long life, he was a voracious reader, and this, too, was an interest he shared with all his family. In retirement, he finally found the time to travel, and he and Marilyn were able to cover the globe and visit many of the places of which he had read, as well as locations in which he had been stationed in the Far East. But, he was never happier than when he returned to Fryeburg and took up his regular routine of spending time with family and friends and enjoying the camaraderie of daily encounters with other community members over breakfast at the local cafe. Roger will be greatly missed and long remembered and the world will be a lesser place without him.
He was predeceased by his parents; sisters, Barbara Moreland and Margaret Emmons; and his son Joel.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn; devoted daughter Kathryn SB Davis of Kennebunk; a granddaughter, a grandson, and three great-grandchildren children.
At his request, there will be no funeral service. A celebration of his life will take place on Saturday, April 28, at the Fryeburg Academy Performing Arts Center from 9:30 to 11 a.m. All are welcome to join in for a cup of coffee and his favorite blueberry muffins as memories of his life are shared.
Arrangements are made with Wood Funeral Home, Fryeburg. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.woodfuneralhome.org
If desired, donations may be made in Roger’s memory to: Fryeburg Academy, 745 Main St., Fryeburg, ME 04037.