David Raymond Bearup

David R. (Dave) Bearup, loving husband, father, and grandfather, of Rome, NY, passed away peacefully on July 18, 2025, at Rome Health at the age of 76. He was born on March 17, 1949, in Watertown, NY, a son of the late George and Lena Dick Bearup. Dave was a graduate of Immaculate Heart High School in Watertown, NY. He continued his education at Jefferson Community College, then Albany College of Pharmacy, where he met the love of his life, Kathyrn Peacock. He was united to Kathyrn in marriage  in 1974, in a ceremony which took place in Heuvelton, NY. This blessed union lasted 46 years, until Kathyrn’s passing on June 1st, 2021. Dave was a former member of the Rome Polish Home and the Pharmacy Society, as well as a Cub Scout Leader. After college, Dave worked at Kinney Drugs before building a career with the NYS Department of Corrections as a pharmacist at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, where he worked until his retirement.  

Dave developed a love of music at a young age and played trumpet in the high school band. Inspired by the Beatles, he later taught himself to play guitar and played in a number of local bands throughout the north country. He retired from the music circuit once he started a family but continued to play for his family and taught his children to play trumpet and guitar. Dave continued to explore his passion for art and music into retirement, making friends and taking classes in Italian, Creative Writing, and Painting at the Mohawk Valley Institute for Learning in Retirement (MVILR).

He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Melissa and Richard Vansteeland;  three sons and two daughters-in-law, David Bearup, James and Jennifer Bearup, and Matthew and Michelle Bearup; two cherished grandchildren, Emma and Vivian; two brothers, George and Peter Bearup; two sisters, Mary (Randy) Yott and Michelle (Ken) Kavanaugh; and many loving nephews and nieces. Dave is preceded in death by his brother, Tommy, and his sister, Barbara (John) Hulbert.

Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Thursday, July 24, from 3:00 - 6:00 pm at Strong-Burns & Sprock Funeral Home, 7751 Merrick Road, Rome. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 25, at 11:00 am  at St. Paul’s Church,1807 Bedford Street, Rome. A luncheon will be provided after the conclusion of the service at the Franklin Hotel, 301 South James Street, Rome.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions in Dave’s honor be made to the American Heart Association or WCNY public radio.