Dr. Stuart P. Beaton

Stuart Paul Beaton July 25, 1960 - March 28, 2025

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Stuart Beaton of Littleton, Colorado, after a brief illness.

He was born to the late Arthur and Alice Beaton in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Stuart spent most of his youth in Colorado Springs but later graduated from O’Fallon Township High School in Illinois in 1978. He received a BS in Engineering Physics from the University of Illinois in 1982, and then after working for a bit, went on to earn a doctorate in physics from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 1990 . Following that, he traveled to England for post-doctoral research at Oxford University.

The majority of his working career was spent at Research Aviation Facility (RAF), a division of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). At RAF, Stuart worked on various instruments which were used for remote sensing of atmospheric compounds. Along with having a mind for science, Stuart also had a talent for music. He started on trumpet while in elementary school and continued with it throughout his life, playing in church and community bands. Later in life he added to his musical repertoire by learning the flute.

While science and music were always two of Stuart’s passions, he developed a love for photography as a young adult. Stuart learned a lot of the black and white process for 4x5 prints from the work of Ansel Adams. In recent years, Stuart combined his enthusiasm for photography with his interest in astronomy to seek out nebulae and solar and lunar eclipses, of which he created beautiful photos.

Stuart shared his love of the outdoors with his daughter, going on family hikes and camping trips as she was growing up. He also passed along his love of the trumpet to Abbey. He started her on the instrument, and she embraced it. They enjoyed playing duets and discussing music (including the physics of various instruments.)

Stuart will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Sheryl, of 42 years, his daughter, Abbey, and his siblings, Mark (Paula Weiss), Gail (Sherrie Langston), and Glenn (Chris). An avid and talented trumpeter and flutist, Stuart will be dearly missed by his fellow musicians at Christ on the Mountain Catholic Parish choir and the concert band at Regis University.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Education Through Music, Colorado: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/etm-colorado-inc

Bringing Music to Life (Accepts monetary donations): https://www.bringingmusictolife.org

Science Friday: https://www.sciencefriday.com/donate/