James A. Beagan ’74, of Methuen, Mass.; Feb. 3. Having lived much of his life with multiple sclerosis and being diagnosed with ALS in December 2024, he was a passionate advocate for disability rights, testifying at hearings at the Massachusetts State House and serving on Methuen’s Commission on Disabilities. He worked as a business consultant for Exxon and Sylvania, and from 2017 to 2025, additionally co-hosted the award-winning Methuen Community Studios program Yes We Can: In the Know About Disability. He was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by his partner Robert Burke and four siblings, including sister Marianne Beagan Quirk ’84 and brothers Dan Beagan ’73 and Kevin Beagan ’82.
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Class of 1974