Community Remembers Steven Bekel at Plains Park Memorial
The Plains Park monument is located at Memorial Field.
Steven Bekel died in May 2009, a day after a car accident that also took the life of his father, William Bekel. Steven was just shy of his fifteenth birthday at the time of the accident, and was an active member of Danvers Babe Ruth Baseball. He and his father were on their way to Steven's Babe Ruth baseball game at Burley Field.
Steven, who grew up in Danvers, first attending Thorpe Elementary School, would have graduated with St. John's Prep's Class of 2012.
On Saturday, May 26 family members, friends, former coaches, and community members joined at Plains Park to honor and recognize Steven, whose name was added to the monument at Memorial Field.
"It is entirely fitting that Steven's name be added to this memorial. His friends are just now graduating from high school, and his legacy lives with them and his family," Selectman Mike Powers said.
Alongside Powers, Father Bruce from St. Richard's Church, Steven's uncle and former coaches, as well as his former teammate and friend Chris Bray, spoke at the memorial.
In September, Steven's family and friends hosted a Night of Laughter, with proceeds benefitting Danvers High School senior activities.