This dedicated bench located at the east end of Sieg Hall and next to a war monument contains a plaque that reads:
Benita Beamon, associate professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering, adjunct associate professor of Global Health, and faculty fellow with the Department of Global Health and College of the Environment passed away Nov. 29, 2014 from colorectal cancer. She was 48. Beamon appeared in our Pathways to Global Health video series speaking on her work in complex humanitarian emergencies. She will be greatly missed.
Her obituary was posted on the funeral home website:
Benita Michele Beamon, age 48, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at her home after a courageous fight against colorectal cancer.
Benita was born June 11, 1966 in Atlanta, GA. She grew up in Apple Valley, MN, and graduated from Apple Valley High School in 1984. Benita received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering & Management Sciences from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL; an M.S. in Operations Research from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; and a Ph.D. in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA.
Benita is survived by her mother, Sylvia Sugars Beamon of Eagan, MN & father, Louis Beamon of Apple Valley, MN; her partner of 2.5 years, Lauri Aicher (Casey, Ande, Keegan) of Seattle, WA; one brother, Barry Beamon of Monroe, SD; one nephew, Dominick Beamon of St. Paul, MN; four aunts: Christine Sugars Edwards of Portsmouth, VA; Gloria Sugars Fox (Herbert) of Stone Mountain, GA; Jean Sugars of Philadelphia, PA; and Ruth Sugars of Silver Spring, MD; three uncles: Earl Sugars (Edna) of Thornburg, VA; James Sugars (Helen) of Ashburn, VA; and Lorenzo Sugars (Edna) of Chesapeake, VA; one great aunt, Rosa Jenkins of Portsmouth, VA; and many cousins.
Benita Beamon was a pioneer in humanitarian logistics research. Her expertise was in humanitarian relief chains, sustainability, and supply chains and production systems research. She very much wanted to use her expertise to make the world a better place. She was an avid musician and patron of the arts. She loved football and baseball, and was a big fan of the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, and Seattle Seahawks. She enjoyed watching movies and listening to music.
She is preceded in death by her partner of 21 years, Sherry Ann Muhl, and her grandparents Earl & Esther Sugars and Dorsey & Lillian Beamon. In lieu of flowers, we would appreciate a donation to be made in Benita’s name to the United Nations’ Central Emergency Relief Fund through the following website:http://www.gofundme.com/bbeamon.