Professor Fighting Cancer Killed In Newton House Fire
NEWTON (CBS) – A college professor was found dead several hours after a fire tore through her home in Newton early Monday morning.
63-year-old Beth Deare was the only person not to make it out after the fire gutted the two-family house on Waverly Avenue around 1:30 a.m.
Her body was found just before noon-time.
WBZ-TV's Jim Armstrong reports.
Part of the third floor collapsed on her second floor room, making entry impossible for firefighters.
"We believe (the fire) started in that room, in her room," acting Newton Fire Chief Bruce Proia told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.
"We know that it's accidental, most likely cigarettes, at this point."
Deare was last seen in her apartment watching TV around 10 p.m. Sunday.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones reports.
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She had been frail and sick from a bout with cancer.
Her family said she survived throat cancer five years ago and this past summer was diagnosed with brain cancer. She was currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
Deare had taught English and Communications at Bunker Hill Community College for the last 16 years.
Before that, she worked at WGBH-TV, where she won more than 10 Emmy awards, according to her family.
She is survived by her sister and several relatives.
