Beaumier will Address December Graduates

Dr. John Beaumier, a retired orthopedic surgeon and NMU alumnus, will be the featured speaker at the university's mid-year commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 16. He will also receive an honorary doctor of science degree.

Beaumier was born in Escanaba and now resides in Cedar River. He retired in 1998 from the Mayo Clinic, where he served as a director in orthopedic evaluation. He also was an associate professor in orthopedic surgery at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine.

A 1953 graduate of NMU, Beaumier has maintained close ties to his alma mater. He has served on the NMU Foundation Board of Trustees since 1999 and was national campaign chair for the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign. Beaumier is a past recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award. He also was a 1994 inductee into the NMU Sports Hall of Fame for his contributions to Wildcat football.

After graduating from NMU, Beaumier completed medical school at Marquette University before serving in the U.S. Navy and interning at the U.S. Naval Hospital. He completed his residency at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine and began his professional career at the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin. Beaumier later moved to North Dakota, where he practiced for 25 years at health-care facilities in the Grand Forks area. While there, he spent several years as the team physician for the University of North Dakota. He also provided orthopedic care and consulting during two overseas service trips to Bangladesh. He closed out his career at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Beaumier is actively involved in his community and in St. Joseph Church. He was recognized for his service to both with two recent honors: the Delta County Community Foundation’s Major Achievement Award in 2005 and the Catholic Service Award in September 2006.

While in Marquette, Beaumier and his family will be recognized during the dedication ceremony for the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center, located in the former Cohodas Room of the Superior Dome. The Beaumier family made a $1 million gift during Northern's last capital campaign to create an area on campus that would feature exhibits highlighting the socio-economic, cultural, religious and industrial heritage of the Upper Peninsula.

The NMU mid-year commencement ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. It will be broadcast live on WNMU-TV.