ROCKLAND — Nicholas Barnard “Nick” Beal, 23, died unexpectedly on June 15, 2016, surrounded by the love of his mother at her home.

Born in Rockport on Sept. 17, 1992, Nick was the youngest son born to James and Catherine Barnard Beal. Nick attended Rockland schools and was a 2010 graduate of Rockland District High School. Throughout his young life, Nick excelled at baseball. Starting in Little League, he played for the Fisher team with his father as coach. He quickly rose to the status of All-Star Player as a 9-year-old. Nick and his dad enjoyed countless hours on the diamond catching fly balls, digging out grounders and hitting fast balls.

Always a hard worker, he started working at Dunkin’ Donuts while in high school. It was his incredible work ethic, and maturity well beyond his years, that helped him earn a promotion to manager after he turned 18. He had a warm and welcoming personality that made everyone he met love him, and he formed many great friendships with his customers over the years. Nick served as a manager for several Dunkin’ Donuts locations, including Rockland and Waldoboro. Most recently he was proud to have embarked on a new career with athenahealth in Belfast.

Nick loved the outdoors, especially fishing trips at the family camp on Cargill Pond in Liberty. Family was number one in Nick's life. He loved nothing more than spending time with them at family gatherings, backyard barbecues or just hanging out with his mom. Growing up in a big family, he knew the importance of aunts and uncles in one's life. He took his role of “favorite uncle” very seriously and relished every moment he spent with his nephew, Dominick Beal. Nick had a big heart and was always helpful to anyone who needed it. He touched many lives; from his best friends, Wes McAllister and Joey Norris, to his daily customers. He was always thinking about others, and what he could do for them. He was a generous soul and proud to have had the opportunity to take his father on a trip to Boston, where they took in a game at Fenway and spent the night in the city.

Together with his friends, Nick spent many happy times camping on Big Green Island, going to Red Sox games, hanging out at 8 John St. and 172 Broadway. His friends said he always had special nicknames for them like, “Lakendra,” and he was the brother they never had.

In March of last year, Nick met his soul-mate, Yana Neubig, and they have been inseparable ever since. Together they loved going for rides in Nick's prized white BMW, walking along the boardwalk in Rockland or to their special breakfast spot, the Highlands in Thomaston, cooking and even crashing on the couch after a long day of work for late night movie marathons. Just this past April, Nick and Yana were thrilled to have taken a trip to Miami Beach (a life-long dream of Yana's) for their one-year anniversary. Nick and Yana had big plans together, they spent countless hours talking about their future and looked forward to traveling together, and hoped that Nick could one day meet Yana's Russian family. In everything he did, Nick always made sure Yana had what she needed or wanted and would do anything to make her happy.

Nick was an incredibly social person. He loved going to weekly poker and trivia nights with friends and family. His infectious smile and the light he brought into this world will be sadly missed by all who loved him.

Predeceased by his maternal grandfather, Perry W. Barnard; Nick is survived by his father, James Beal of Rockland; his mother, Catherine “Cathy” Neild and her husband, Eugene, of Warren; his companion, Yana Neubig, of Rockland; his brother, Michael Beal and his fiancée, Keisha Fetchen, of Warren; his nephew, Dominick Beal of Warren; his paternal grandparents, Karen and Frederick Beal Sr. of Rockland; his maternal grandmother, Nancy Barnard of Thomaston; his uncles, Perry I. Barnard and his wife, Sarah, of Belfast, Frederick Beal Jr. of Union, Forrest Beal and his wife, Virginia, of Hinesville, Ga., and Nathaniel Beal and his wife, Sharlene, of Union; his aunts, Eleanor Weismann of Union, Virginia Lindsey and her husband, Wayne, of South Thomaston, and Brenda Beal of Bedford, N.H.; many cousins; a large extended family; and his special friends, Joey Norris and his companion, MacKenzie Smith, Wes McAllister, Candice Porter, Andrew Mahonen, Kim Stone, Todd Starbird, Billy Grace and Randy McKee; as well as many, many more.

Family and friends are invited to visit Tuesday, June 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St. in Rockland, where a celebration of his life will be held on Wednesday, June 22, at 1 p.m. The Rev. Wayne Sawyer will officiate. Interment will follow at Achorn Cemetery.

Although flowers are gratefully accepted, those who wish may make memorial donations to Oceanside Little League, P.O. Box 1424, Rockland, ME 04841.