Montgomery County Community Mourns Loss Of Local Man Just Before 42nd Birthday

ROYERSFORD, PA — A Montgomery County native who was known for his ability to bring people together tragically died at his home late last month during an accident.

Adam Beal, who most recently resided in Royersford, would have turned 42 years old this Friday.

Beal, who was born in Norristown and graduated in 1998 from Methacton High School in Worcester Township, is being remembered as a "great son, father, brother, and friend," according to his obituary.

A lifelong friend, Adam Kane, recently started a GoFundMe page to help raise money to be used for college tuition for Beal's young daughter, Quinn.

Beal also had an older son, Ethan Purr.

"As all of you know, Quinn was Adam's pride and joy," Kane wrote in the intro to the GoFundMe fundraiser. "Adam would be so grateful for any support you can provide to help Quinn achieve her future goals."

Kane wrote that the child's mom, Kristen, had already established a 529 education funding plan for Quinn, and that 100 percent of the proceeds raised through the GoFundMe fundraiser would go into that account.

"No amount is too small as it will have many years to grow before her graduation," Kane wrote.

The GoFundMe, which was started five days ago, shows that close to $6,000 out of a $20,000 goal has been raised at the time of the publication of this story.

Beal became known as a "tech guy" among family and friends, as he enjoyed taking apart and fixing computers, according to his obituary.

He ended up obtaining degrees from Chubb Institute in 2003 and Lansdale School of Business in 2010.

"Adam was a tech-savvy Search Engine Optimization Expert, and owner of Digitally Distinguished, a company dedicated to helping businesses grow online," the obituary reads.

This past August, Beal joined three of his childhood friends — including Kane — on a trip out west to raft down the Salmon and Snake Rivers in Washington, Idaho and Oregon.

Bob Richards, who participated in that trip, said the outdoor adventure changed Beal.

"He was all about it," Richards told Patch in an interview. "I just think it had a very profound effect on him."

Richards, who now lives in Collegeville with his wife and kids, said he and Beal were friends ever since Beal moved next door to him back in 1985 when the two were in kindergarten. They remained close ever since.

"He was one of the best friends I ever had," Richards said. "I lived next door to him my entire childhood."

During the rafting trip, Richards said Beal was the take-charge first mate who really kept things together while the crew was out on the open river for days on end.

His leadership abilities on that trip were indicative of the type of person Beal was in life, Richards said.

"Beal could just kind of do everything well," Richards said. "He was just one of those guys. Things came very easily to him."

Richards said Beal's capabilities on the nature trip were "very responsible for us making it home in one piece."

"I've never been exposed to anything like that," Richards said. "I think that Beal would have said the same thing."

Richards said the trip served as a great opportunity for rekindling, especially during a time when the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult for people to stay in touch with each other.

After Beal's recent, untimely death, Richards said he thinks back on that trip with incredible fondness. The entire group of friends, he said, are now very happy that they ended up taking that trip after all, one that had been years in the making.

"It's the one thing that really made me feel OK about everything," he said. "Just the fact that we were able to do that."

Anyone interested in planting a tree in honor of Beal's life can find out more information by visiting this website.

Editor's Note: Patch editor Jon Campisi was also a member of Methacton High School's 1998 graduating class and was acquainted with Beal and has nothing but the fondest memories of his former classmate.