Mesa, Ariz. – Staff Sgt. Craig T. McBean, 32, passed away on Oct. 18, in Mesa, Ariz.

Craig was the beloved and cherished son of Kristina (Paterson) and Thomas McBean of Griffin Avenue, Hampden. He was born in Bangor on Sept. 25, 1975. He was a student of the Hampden schools and graduated from Hampden Academy with honors in 1994. Craig had many gifts and talents. He excelled in sports. At age 10, 11 and 12, he was the state of Maine National Junior Olympic long jump champion and represented the state at the National Junior Olympics in Lincoln, Neb., in 1985. At Hampden, he excelled in soccer, basketball and baseball. He was on the state of Maine honorable mention baseball team in 1990 and 1991, and was the most valuable player his Junior year in 1993. He attended the University of Maine in Presque Isle and played basketball until an injury ended his collegiate basketball career. He continued to play softball, coach, referee and umpire until the present. He was a member of softball teams which qualified and played at the state and national level. He was a former member of the 101 refueling division of the Maine Air National Guard and a current member of the Arizona Air National Guard, in Phoenix, Ariz. During his five years in the Arizona guard, he gained honors as the distinguished graduate of airman leadership school, three time airman of the quarter recipient, and in 2005, was the National Guard aAirman of the Year. He was a compassionate, introspective man. He worked in the Tempe, Ariz. school district for five years with special education high school students. At the time of his death, he was the transitional technician for the special education department at McClintock High School. He was an education student at Arizona State University.

Craig is survived by his parents; his sister, Natalie Fournier, and her husband, Adam Fournier and his nephew, Derek, all of Bangor; his grandmother, Natalie Paterson of Rumford; Aunt Kim Manoush, (John), of Raymond, Aunt Nikki Lyden, (James), of Westbrook; Uncle Edward Paterson of Rumford, Uncle Kip Paterson, (Lisa), of Putnam Conn.; cousins, Chelsea, McKenzie and Delaney Paterson, of Rumford, and Quincey Lyden of Westbrook.

He leaves his loyal canine companion, Kobe, of Mesa, Ariz.

He was predeceased by his grandparents, Ray and Fay McBean and Edward J Paterson and his uncle, John McBean, all of Rumford.

Craig lost a long and deep struggle within himself. He had many friends in Maine and Arizona who loved him and helped him. Thank you to all who care.