Geoffrey A. Beaven

Geoffrey Beaven (77) of West Greenwich passed away on May 9th, 2024. He was the loved son of the late George Beaven Jr. and Helen (Whitaker) Beaven. Geoff grew up in North Kingstown on Pojac Point. He was a man of many talents: he was a fisherman, a farmer, a firefighter, and most of all, a loving father and husband.

He leaves his wife of 38 years, Joan Santos-Beaven and their daughter Elizabeth Beaven of Warwick. He also leaves a sister, Dr. Gail Wangerin and her husband Lawrence Wangerin of Methuen MA, a niece Rebecca Wangerin-Wolfe, and her daughters Althea Wolfe and Cassandra Wolfe, as well as a nephew Benjamin Wangerin. He was also very close with his cousin Joseph Puleo. He was preceded in death by his younger brother George Beaven III of Pojac Point.

There would never be enough time to detail all the things Geoff loved. He was a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge. He collected many things, most notably antique cars, including the Model A he bought at 15 with bull raking money. He also collected model trains and flew model RC airplanes.

Geoff was passionate about many interests, including an enthusiasm for geology among many sciences, a love of all things mechanical and electrical, and he had his father's gift of a green thumb. He enjoyed theater and singing and was a cast member at Theater By The Sea in the 70's. He continued to enjoy music his whole life, going to many folk concerts with his wife; and continuously singing made up songs to his pets, something his daughter emulated fervently. He was truly gifted in the kitchen and cooked amazing meals for his family right up until the week before he passed.

In true Rhode Island fashion, Geoff loved to meet people. He made friends everywhere he went and very rarely went somewhere that he didn't know at least one person in the crowd. His ability to strike up a conversation served him well in his time in the Navy at Vung Tau, Vietnam where he oversaw a team of 22 men repairing electrical elements on swift boats and did watches serving as a trusted MP in town.

Geoff was a natural born first responder. He began as a teenager serving as a firefighter on the Quidnessett Fire Dept. He joined the University of Rhode Island Fire Dept. as a freshman while he studied at the University. After leaving to enlist in the Navy and eventually being honorably discharged he returned to both URI and the Fire Dept. while he obtained his Bachelors in Soil Sciences. He later joined Lake Mishnock Fire when he moved to West Greenwich, eventually becoming a deputy chief.

Geoff owned a trucking company for many years and traveled the country in his Mack Trucks. After his daughter was born, he spent her formative years working at the Apponaug Color Shop, where he would enchant his child with models and kites. His later years saw him as a raspberry farmer and maple syrup producer on his parents' land. He loved striking up conversations at the farmers markets where he sold his tasty wares.

Aside from his family and friends, Geoff loved animals most of all. There is no doubt that when he passed, he was greeted home by dozens of cats, dogs, a few rabbits, and one horse named Dudley.

He will be missed by many. His impact was larger than even he could ever realize.

We love you, Geoff, always have, always will.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date, burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to: The Pet Refuge - Animal Rescue League, PO Box 83, North Kingstown, RI 02852