R. Paul Beem

Robert Paul Beem, 71, of Sedona, died on May 1st, 2012. He was born on October 22, 1940 in Brooklyn, NY, the son of Clarence and Helen (Weber) Beem. He grew up in Mattoon, IL, and later attended Oak Lawn High School, in Oak Lawn, IL, where he earned a full scholarship to a college of his choice. He attended the University of Chicago, but transferred to Stanford, where he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics, and a master\u0027s in education. He taught high school math in San Francisco for six years, and then went to the University of Virginia where he earned a doctorate in mathematics, specializing in topology. He was hired by Indiana University South Bend, where he taught for 28 years before retiring to Sedona. Paul loved music and was always a strong member of his church choirs over the years. He also sang in numerous other choral ensembles, played guitar, banjo, and, when he was a boy, the country fiddle. He is survived by his wife of twenty years, Sylvia Frost, step children, Andrew Geiger and Karen Geiger, children, Matthew (Angela) Beem and David (Carrie) Beem, and two grandchildren, Sophia Beem and Maxwell Beem. Donations in his memory may be made to the Sedona United Methodist Church, 110 Indian Cliffs Rd., Sedona, AZ, 86336. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 9th at 10:30 am at Sedona United Methodist Church.