Distinguished Alumni: Don Bean '65

Don Bean, Class of 1965, is the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, presented by the Fryeburg Academy Alumni Association. A lifelong educator and community leader, Don’s story began in Lovell, Maine, where he enjoyed a happy, busy childhood. Whether playing golf, caddying at Kezar Lake Country Club, or helping out at his father’s shop and gas station, Don was always on the move—and always surrounded by friends, many of whom remain close to this day.

He attended the Annie Heald School in Lovell and still remembers teachers like Cora Cook—firm, no-nonsense educators who were perfectly suited to keeping middle school boys in line. These early influences helped lay the foundation for what would become a remarkable, decades-long career in education.

Don’s love of golf began at the Kezar Lake Country Club, where he not only learned the game but also earned pocket money as a caddy. As a teenager, he even sometimes found himself overseeing the daily operations. 

At Fryeburg Academy, Don found both academic inspiration and athletic success. A four-year member of the football and baseball teams, he played on the 1963 state championship football squad, which was recently inducted into the Academy’s Hall of Excellence. Yet it was in the classroom, under the guidance of teachers like Scott Kelly, that Don discovered his true calling. Their passion for working with young people sparked his own interest in pursuing a career in education.

After graduating from the Academy, Don attended the University of Maine at Orono, earning a degree in education with a concentration in biology in 1969. He later completed his master’s degree in education from the University of Southern Maine in 1978.

Don began his teaching career close to home, serving as a physical education teacher in several local schools, from Brownfield to Lovell. He later taught sixth grade at C.A. Snow School in Fryeburg. Although he briefly stepped away from the classroom, he quickly realized how much he missed working with students. He returned to teaching in the Conway School District, where he would spend the next 26 years making a positive impact on generations of sixth graders.

His commitment and excellence in the classroom did not go unnoticed. Don was named Conway’s Educator of the Year in 1996, included in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in 2000, and received the Tin Mountain Outstanding Educator Award in 2001.

Beyond the classroom, Don dedicated countless hours to coaching local Babe Ruth and Little League baseball teams. Even after retiring from teaching in 2004, he continued to serve his community, working for 14 years as an aide at Mountain Top Physical Therapy in Fryeburg, where he took pride in helping people recover and regain their strength.

Giving back to the community and his church have been an important part of Don’s life.. A member of Journey Church for 50 years, he has served on its governing board and taught Sunday School. He is an active member of the Fryeburg Area Rotary Club, is a member of FA’s Hall of Excellence Committee, and currently serves on the board of the Fryeburg Historical Society, where he volunteers as a docent at the Osgood House every Thursday.

Teaching and mentoring young people have always been at the heart of Don’s decision-making. At one point, he began a second master’s program in educational administration, but ultimately decided not to pursue it—realizing that it would mean spending less time with students, and therefore less joy.

Don and his wife, Cindy, have been married for 50 years. Together, they’ve raised their children and now love following the lives of their three grandchildren, all of whom are active in extracurricular activities. Although the thought of escaping to a warmer climate in January is tempting, Don says he’d miss his kids and grandkids far too much to be away.

A lifelong learner, devoted teacher, and generous community member, Don Bean exemplifies the very best of Fryeburg Academy. We are proud to honor him as this year’s Distinguished Alumnus.