Daniel Beagan

Daniel (Dan) Beagan, 95, of Cranston, RI passed away on December 24, 2020.  During his later years, he was a grateful resident of the Veterans Home in Bristol, Rhode Island.

He was the husband of the late Frances (Biernacki) Beagan who passed away in 2014.  She was the love of his life and they were married for 65 years.  She was a wonderful woman who was a beacon of love and hope for Dan for all of their married life.

Born December 18, 1925 in Providence, R.I., he was the son of the late James and Margaret (Leonard) Beagan.  Dan grew up in a large family that lived in the Elmwood and South Providence sections of Rhode Island.  Dan was the youngest brother to the late Rose (Sister John Leonard), Thomas, Andrew, Mary, John, James (Father Jim), Matthew and Dorothy. He had a group of lifelong friends from his youth in South Providence, his time at Saint Michael’s Parish, at Lasalle Academy. and his years of work at Gorham's.  

Dan enlisted in the Navy at age 17 to serve as a radioman on an LSM ship in the Pacific campaigns of World War II.  He never learned to swim before or after joining the Navy and had many stories of his life in the Navy including his exploits training in the mid-West, travelling down the Mississippi, encountering racism in the South and journeying through the Panama Canal before entering the Pacific.   Although he never was in a firefight, he was involved in the liberty of Manilla and Japan.  After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Dan returned to Providence where he worked in a few industrial jobs before working at Gorham Silverware of Providence, Rhode Island.  He worked on heavy silver tea sets for 41 years before retiring at age 62. 

Dan was blessed with a lovely tenor voice and loved to sing with family and friends.  After retiring, Dan spent 18 years performing in singing groups such as the Silvertones, which he created at the Cranston Senior Center, and Just We Three, which he formed with partners Tony and John and Nellie.  Dan and his singing mates travelled all over Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts singing the classics at family events, as well as in senior centers and nursing homes.  He will be especially remembered for the dozens of Saint Patrick’s Day performances he did annually around the state. 

Dan loved his New England sports teams, agonizing over the years of frustrating Red Sox and Patriots teams until he was able to see them come into their glory in the 2000’s.  He always loved the Celtics and the hometown Providence College Friars and would avidly follow these teams on radio when sitting on his front porch or in later years on television.

Dan is survived by his five children (Daniel F. Beagan and his spouse Sandra (Schanbacher), James Beagan, John Beagan, Kevin Beagan and his spouse Lori (Brown), and Marianne (Beagan) Quirk and her spouse Timothy), seven grandchildren (Ryan, Jason, Patrick, Brian, and Gregory Beagan, Charles, “Charlie” and Louise “Lucy” Quirk) and many nephews, nieces and godchildren. He will be remembered for his smile and the Irish songs that were always on his lips.  Oh, Danny Boy, We love you so. 

His family requests that in lieu of flowers, that donations may be made in Daniel’s name to the Rhode Island Veteran’s Home. The services are being handled by the Jones-Walton-Sheridan Funeral Home, but there are no calling hours due to the current restrictions.  There will be a Mass of Christian burial at Saint Paul’s Church on January 4th  at 10 AM,  followed by a short private burial service at Saint Ann Cemetery in Cranston, also please visit https://danbeaganmemorial.com.

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