Mark C. Bean

Mark C. Bean, 65, of Nelson, NH and formerly of Jaffrey, NH, died suddenly and unexpectedly while jogging on Monday, August 12, 2019, with his wife, Linda by his side.

Born April 29, 1954 in Boston, MA, Mark was the son of the late Delcie and Margaret (Crane) Bean, Jr. He was the youngest of six children born into the family. He attended high school at the Mount Hermon School for Boys in Northfield, MA and Keene State University later in his adult life. Mark was known for his lifelong love for learning, his commitment to his family and community and his kind, generous spirit.

His passion, however, was his family’s business, D.D. Bean & Sons Co; founded 80 years ago in Jaffrey by Delcie D. Bean, Sr. (Mark’s grandfather) and his two sons, Vernon and Delcie D. Bean, Jr. “Jack” (Mark’s father). Mark invested 47 years of his life in the company. He relished the unique challenge of working in a family business and he was instrumental through the years in helping it grow, adapt and even thrive, making paper matches and other promotional items for global markets. He loved nothing better than giving tours and talks about not only D.D. Bean, but the history of the match industry and the role D.D. Bean had played in it.

Mark’s other passion was his relationship with his wife and children. He met his wife, Linda, and her three young children in California in 1983 where he was managing one of the many manufacturing plants D.D. Bean owned at that time. He was eager to take on instant fatherhood and he welcomed them into his life and heart fully. They moved back to Jaffrey in 1986, after Mark’s first child was born, and went on to have two additional children while raising their family in Jaffrey for the next 16 years. In 2004, Mark and Linda adopted a six-year-old boy and their family was complete. Mark was active as a cub scout leader as well as a youth soccer and basketball coach. Most of all, he was “Pop” to all the children; be they biological or otherwise, they all received his love equally and without limits.

Mark was also very active in his community. He served on the Jaffrey-Rindge School Board, the Board of Monadnock Hospital and the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce. He was instrumental in reviving the Jaffrey Festival of Fireworks in 1990 during the company’s community celebration of the 100th anniversary of the match. He had most recently been active in supporting the construction of the Park Theatre in Jaffrey. He was a humble man and believed strongly in giving back to his beloved hometown.

Mark was quite the historian, particularly as it related to Jaffrey. After writing about the Dean Murder, he embarked on a project of re-opening the 1918 cold case as well as bringing the story to life. He became a local expert on the subject and gave a talk about it at the Amos Fortune Forum in the summer of 2018, which coincided with the 100th anniversary of the murder.

Mark is survived by his wife and best friend, Linda (Chiorino) Bean of Nelson, NH; his three biological children: Delcie D. Bean, IV, Patrick C. Bean, and Rachael, M. Bean; his three step-children: Scott C. Webster, Jennifer E. Webster, and Laurie A. Molina and his adopted son, Marcus C. Bean. He’s also survived by seven grandchildren; his siblings, Margaret Alice Brown and her husband David of Taos, New Mexico and Peterborough, New Hampshire, Delcie D. Bean, III and his wife Marney of Dublin, New Hampshire, Ellen R. Bean of Markham, Ontario, Canada, Elizabeth (Betsy) C. Bean of Baltimore, Maryland, Christopher V. Bean and his wife Claire of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and the community he loved.

Abiding by Mark’s wishes, there will be no calling hours.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, September 6, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at the United Church of Jaffrey followed by a reception at the Mildred Cutter Hall.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Mark’s memory to the Park Theatre, PO Box 278, Jaffrey, NH 03452, or to the Granite Lake Association, C/O Thomas Newcombe – Treasurer, 701 Granite Lake Road, Munsonville, NH 03457.