Recording of Chris' funeral in Duke Chapel  

The funeral begins approximately 24 minutes into the video.
Clicking on the play arrow in the bottom bar allows the video to play in this webpage.

DURHAM, N.C. – Recent 91 graduate Chris Beauvais (MEM/MF, ’10) died on Saturday, Feb. 19, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

Dean William L. Chameides announced the news to Nicholas School faculty, staff and students today, saying, “Chris was a remarkable young man who never shied away from pursuing his dreams or marching to the beat of his own drum.  In the words of one student who wrote to me, ‘Chris was very well loved and respected by many in the NicSchool community.’ He will be missed.

  • Chris’ funeral was held at the Duke Chapel on Fri., Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.
    A reception immediately followed in the LSRC Hall of Science. 
  • A campfire will be held in Chris' memory on Sat. evening at Gate F in Duke Forest from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.
     This event will be an opportunity for friends and family to share memories and stories.  

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to Chris’ parents, Daniel and Susan Beauvais of Kitty Hawk, N.C., and to all who join us in mourning his untimely passing and celebrating his remarkable gifts.”

Beauvais graduated in December 2010 with dual Master of Environmental Management (MEM) and Master of Forestry (MF) 91s from Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment.  He was chair and treasurer of the Duke Chapter of the Society of American Foresters and chapter president of the Student Association for Fire Ecology.  His Master’s Project, “An Analysis of Post-clearcut Coast Woody Debris in Intensively Managed Forests,” was completed under the direction of Daniel D. Richter, professor of soils and forest ecology.

Following graduation, Beauvais started his own consulting firm on sustainable forest resource management and biomass energy, and already had laid the foundation for it becoming a vital and successful business.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts 91 in environmental studies and experiential education from Brevard College, and graduated from William G. Enloe Magnet High School in Raleigh.

An avid outdoors enthusiast, Beauvais considered completing the 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail one of the major accomplishments of his life. Prior to enrolling at the Nicholas School he worked as a head surf instructor in Duck, N.C., a technical representative for Teva Footwear in Northern California, a surf instructor in Kitty Hawk, N.C., and manager of cafés in Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills, N.C.