Richard Beaton, former CBC broadcaster, dead at 68

Richard Beaton, a New Brunswicker who found his home on the airwaves of Newfoundland and Labrador, has died after suffering a stroke. He was 68.

Beaton, who had suffered a stroke last week, died Sunday at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John's.

Beaton read innumerable newscasts with CBC Radio, and hosted Dialogue a CBC Television program that focused on religion, spirituality and the humanities between 1979 and 1990.

He also hosted Musicraft and contributed frequently to Weekend AM and other programs.

Beaton, who moved to St. John's in the 1970s, retired from CBC in 1997.

Colleagues at CBC in St. John's remember him warmly.

"He loved to chat," said radio news producer Jon Soper.

"He could talk to you and talk to you and talk to you, almost to the point of missing the newscast, because he'd get engaged in a conversation, and suddenly whoop! He would take off to the studio, just in time to get the news on the air."

Until just a couple of weeks ago, his voice could still be heard on VOWR, where he volunteered and hosted a Thursday morning program.

He also worked with a local Rotary Club, and volunteered as a tour guide at Government House in St. John's.

'You never stop learning'

In May, Beaton completed a lifelong dream of finishing a long-delayed Bachelor of Arts degree at Memorial University.

Beaton said his experience proved that it's never too late to pursue such a goal.

"I would say to anyone, even if you didn't graduate, go, because you never stop learning," Beaton told CBC News at last spring's convocation.

A funeral will be held at St. Mark's Anglican Church on Logy Bay Road on Thursday at 11 a.m.

Beaton is survived by his wife Marilyn, daughters Nancy and Jill and his granddaughter Billie.