JUDGE WARREN W. BENTZ

BENTZ
JUDGE WARREN W.
Former Federal Bankruptcy Judge, Warren Worthington Bentz, passed away Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at the home of his daughter in Elmira, New York. Bentz was born January 8, 1926, in Hastings, Nebraska. He was the second of four children of Marie E. Weinberg Bentz and Ivan Bentz. Judge Bentz was preceded in death by his parents; and by his brother, Marion Frances Bentz. Bentz received Naval Officer training in the World War II V-12 program, first attending the University of Virginia for a year, where he was part of the boxing team. Under this program, he was transferred to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. While there, Bentz played football under Coach Fritz Crisler and competed in track and field, including pole vaulting and hurdling. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1945 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. In 1951, Bentz married the former Maria Gerasimatov and attended Harvard Law School in Cambridge, MA. Upon his graduation, they moved to Erie, PA, where he accepted a job with local attorney, I.J. Cilin. Later, he practiced law with Atty. W. Louis Schlesinger. In 1984, Bentz was appointed Federal Bankruptcy Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, sitting in Erie and Pittsburgh. He served in this capacity for 25 years until he retired in 2009. Judge Bentz gave his time to many local organizations. He was a longtime member of the Perry-Keystone Lodge #392, F. & A. M., Zem Zem Shrine and Scottish Rite, Valley of Erie and he was awarded the 33rd Degree, a Masonic distinction, its highest honor. He belonged to the Kiwanis Club and served a term as president. He was a member of the Erie County Bar Association, served as its president, and was honored as Chancellor of the Bar. He belonged to the Erie Yacht Club, the Erie Maennerchor, the Society of Professional Engineers, and the First United Methodist Church of Erie. For many years, he served on the Board of Directors of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the YMCA. Judge Bentz loved a good handball game at the downtown Y and won numerous handball tournaments over the years. Judge Bentz is survived by Maria Bentz, his wife of 63 years. He is survived by his older brother, George V. Bentz of North Carolina; and his younger sister, Margaret Johns of Maryland; also surviving Judge Bentz are his three children, Virginia Bentz, Ph.D., of Ann Arbor, MI; Dr. Linda Welles and her husband, Dr. Richard Welles, of Elmira, NY, Atty. James Bentz and his wife, Atty. Amy Bentz, of Pittsburgh, PA. He is survived by eight grandchildren, Cynthia Chestek, Ph.D., and her husband, Christopher Granahan, of Ann Arbor, MI, Dr. David Chestek and his wife, Joyce Chestek, of Chicago, IL, Andrew Welles and his wife, Jaclyn Welles, of Horseheads, NY, Steven Welles and Thomas Welles of Elmira, NY, Victoria Bentz of New York, NY, and Eric Bentz and Natalia Bentz of Pittsburgh, PA. Judge Bentz is survived by two great- grandchildren, Anaya Granahan and Akil Granahan of Ann Arbor, MI; and many nieces and nephews. Judge Bentz was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He will be sorely missed by his family. Friends and former colleagues of Judge Bentz may pay their final respects at the BRUGGER FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY, 1595 West 38th Street, Erie, PA 16508 on Thursday, January 8, 2015, 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, January 9, 2015, 1:00 p.m., at First United Methodist Church of Erie, 707 Sassafras Street, Erie, PA 16501. Interment will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery, on Sterrettania Road south of West 38th St., immediately after the Service. Condolences and photos may be sent at:
www.bruggerfuneralhomes.com
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