Shrewsbury – Donald W. “Don” “The Professor” Bean, 85, passed away Dec. 23, 2020. He was the devoted husband of Roberta L. (Neary) Bean for 62 years.
Besides his loving wife Roberta, Don is survived by his children, Robert Bean and his wife Michelle of Marlborough, Dr. Stephen Bean and his wife Karen of Shrewsbury, and Donna Puopolo and her husband Louis of Naples, Fla.; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; his brother, Mark Perreault and his wife Sybille of Whispering Pines, N.C., as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Lorenzo and Ruth (Sutherland) Bean, and his granddaughter, Tara Katherine Bean.
Born in Attleboro, raised and educated in North Attleboro, Don graduated high school in 1954. He attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute where he graduated with honors, achieving a degree in Chemical Engineering. In 1958, he married the love of his life, Roberta.
Don was an active member of WPI’s ROTC program and upon graduation was commissioned into the U.S. Army Signal Corps as a Second Lieutenant, where he served until 1967.
He had a distinguished engineering career in the valve industry, holding management positions at Jamesbury, Kieley and Mueller, and Smith Valve Corp.
Don loved traveling with his family and friends. For their 50th wedding anniversary, he and Roberta took the entire family with them on an amazing trip to Ireland. Don also enjoyed golfing, Irish music, photography, and playing guitar. An excellent cook, he authored the “Bean Family Cookbook,” which raised funds for pediatric brain tumor research in honor of his granddaughter, Tara. Above all, family meant everything to Don. They will deeply miss his sage advice, quiet strength, and warm heart.
Donations in his name may be made to The Tara Bean Fund at Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602 Boston, MA 02215. For online donations, please visit giving.childrenshospital.org/. Specify “Other” for Gift Designation and enter “Tara Bean Fund.” Donations in his name can also be made to the Worcester County Food Bank, 474 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 (foodbank.org/donate/).
Services will be held at a future date. The Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
