SALAMANCA - Esther Benz, of Salamanca, died Saturday (Feb. 15, 2014) at Heritage Village Healthcare, Gerry, where she had lived since 2006.
She was born in 1918, the third daughter of Fred and Lillian Gallin Benz. After high school in Salamanca, she graduated from Wells College. She taught a few years before choosing to go to Columbia University for her graduate degree. She lived at the International House on campus, which was one reason why she chose Columbia. Following Columbia. She moved to New Jersey to spend the rest of her professional career teaching in northern New Jersey. She retired in the 1980s and returned to Salamanca to make her home. Many remember her dedication to teaching as demonstrated through her coming in early and leaving late, and tutoring students who needed help in order to pass her class. Over the years many of her former students have tracked her down to bring their children to meet her, saying, "This is the woman who changed my life." She did have a number of avocations over the years.
Her family benefited from her knitting skills, having been outfitted for skiing for years with sweaters, hats and mittens. She dedicated herself to learning decoupage. She was a member of the national association for that craft and won awards at the national conventions for several years. In her retirement, she took the volunteer job of curating the showcase at the Salamanca Public Library when this display box was first constructed. She found people with interesting collections. She would write an extensive article about the people, their collections and, when possible, information about the history of the collections. She took great joy in meeting people and finding out about their hobbies.
Esther and her sister, Lillian, traveled often. Besides her international travel, which included trips to Churchill, Manitoba, to see polar bears, and Machu Picchu; she especially liked long weekend tours filled with the music, drama and art in New York, Toronto, and Washington, D.C. Her ninth decade did not lack for adventures. Always the observer of life and its detail, she started to observe the large number of motorcycles on the road outside her window. Esther decided she wanted to ride a motorcycle for her 90th birthday. With generous assistance and participation from the staff at Heritage Village Healthcare and Harley Davidson of Jamestown, Esther, outfitted in leathers, rode a splendid bike with a handsome man at the wheel, followed by the Lady Riders and a large number of supporters. The Lady Riders of Harley adopted her as an honorary member, and in subsequent years she was part of their annual calendar for the month of September.
She was predeceased by her sisters, Lillian Congdon (1915-2007) and Elizabeth Walker (1917-1995); and her parents.
She is survived by two nieces, Martha Congdon of Pittsfield, Mass., and Anita Walker Jessen of Hingham, Mass.; a nephew, Fred Walker of Centreville, Va.; as well as five grand-nieces and nephews, Matt, Nick, and Elizabeth Walker, and John and Eric Jessen.
A celebration of life will be at 3 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 22, 2014). Please meet at the main hall of the Administration Building, Allegany State Park, Red House Area. Burial will be private at Wildwood Cemetery at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Salamanca Public Library, Wildwood Avenue, Salamanca, NY 14779; or Allegany State Park, through the Natural Heritage Trust online at http://nysparks.com/natural-heritage-trust/support-state-parks.aspx. Please direct your memorial to Allegany State Park.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the O'Rourke & O'Rourke Inc. Funeral Home, 25 River St., Salamanca. E-condolences can be sent to [email protected] or posted to facebook.com/onofh.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
2 Entries
Esther Benz was an incredible English teacher. She had a profound impact on my senior year at NPHS. I will never forget the day we were in the library and she was bringing around papers she had graded and she said to me, smiling, as she handed mine back, "You always do things exactly the way I want them done!." And here I am 45 years later and I still remember those kind words of encouragement from a teacher who demanded the best of her students. I'm not sure that I remember any other specific quote from any teacher I ever had, but coming from her, that has always stayed with me.
Herbert Uthlaut
February 28, 2014
Dear Ms. Benz, I will never forget you. As you go on to paradise, those of us who have benefited from your service promise to pass on what you gave to us. Sincerely,
Michael Haines
February 23, 2014
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