Howard Beaton

Born in New York City on August 11, 1950, he graduated from Yale University in 1972 and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1976. He completed his surgical residency at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center and practiced as a general surgeon in New York City for more than four decades.

From 1994 to 2003, Dr. Beaton served as Chief of Surgery and Emergency Services at NYU Downtown Hospital (now New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital). He was especially proud of his service during the September 11 attacks, when he and his colleagues cared for casualties from the World Trade Center, just blocks away. He later co-authored a study of New York City hospitals’ surgical response to the attacks. His account of that day is preserved in National Geographic’s 9/11 archive. Over the course of his career, Dr. Beaton also practiced at Beth Israel Medical Center, served as Chairman of the Department of Surgery at North General Hospital, and was an attending surgeon at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Associate Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Howard was predeceased by his beloved wife of 28 years, Bettye Beaton. He is survived by his son, Joshua Beaton (Beth); daughters Audrey Margarite (Mike) and Jessica Beaton (Todd); grandchildren Jacob, Olivia, Cameron and Noa; siblings Dianne Heaps and Neal Beaton; and his partner, Irit Granger.

He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues and the many patients he cared for throughout his career.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, October 8, at 12:45pm at Sharon Gardens. Shiva will be observed Thursday, October 8 from 4-8pm, Friday, October 9 from 1-5pm, at his home in New York City, and Sunday, October 11 from 1-4pm at his home in Connecticut.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the JCC in Sherman, Connecticut.