Complications following an operation, yesterday caused the death of Dr. Harold C. Bean, 40, president of the State Board of Health and one of the most prominent diagnosticians in Portland. Dr. Bean died shortly before noon at the Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was operated on December 26, two days before his 40th birthday. He had been ill only a week, entering the hospital Christmas Day.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 2:30 o’clock at the Finley Chapel.
With the exception of a brother in Seattle, all members of his immediate family were at the bedside when Dr. Bean died, Judge and Mrs. Robert S. Bean, his parents, canceling plans to attend the funeral yesterday of the mother’s sister, Mrs. Ellen McCormick. The eldest brother arrived by air yesterday from Seattle.
The crisis was reached shortly after midnight yesterday and the family was immediately notified. Dr. Bean did not regain consciousness immediately before his death. He was suddenly stricken a week ago and his condition was so serious an immediate operation was decided on. The operation was performed by Drs. Eugene and Paul Rockey with Drs. Frank Mount, Earl DuBois and Laurence Selling in consultation.
Dr. Bean was born in Eugene, December 28, 1889. He was graduated from the University of Oregon in 1912 and from the Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore in 1916, serving there as intern and later as residential house officer.
Early in the World War, Dr. Bean joined he Canadian Army and served in France until his transfer to the American expeditionary forces on the entrance of the United States into the conflict. On his return from France, Dr. Bean practiced for a time in Heppner, Or., and then came to Portland, here he had remained in constant practice, specializing in internal medicine. For a time he was associated with Dr. Laurence Selling, but established his own offices in 1921.
Besides his parents, he leaves his widow, Mrs. Esther Gilmer Bean, whom he married in 1917 in the east, at the family home, 188 Macleay Boulevard and two children, Janet Sharp Bean, 6, and Harold Gilmer Bean, 9 months. Two brothers, Robert and Ormond R. Bean, reside in Portland, and a third, Condon C. Bean, lives in Seattle.
Dr. Bean was very active in the profession in which he was one of the state’s recognized leaders. Besides the state health post, he was also assistant clinical professor of medicine at the University of Oregon. He was a member of the Oregon State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and was active in other similar organizations. He belonged to Sigma Nu Fraternity and Phi Beta Kappa. He was a member of the Scottish Rite Masons, the Elks, American Legion, Arlington and University clubs, as well as the Oswego Country Club. He was as popular among his social associates as among members of his profession.
Dr. Bean maintained offices in the Medical Arts Building.
Oregonian, January 3, 1930
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman