BENNETT TRACY HUFFMAN

took his own life on October 15, 2010. He was born June 1, 1963 in Pomona, California to parents Jim and Pat Huffman. Bennett (Ben) grew up in Claremont and attended Claremont schools. Following high school Ben graduated from the University of Redlands in 1986, earning his degree from the university's Johnston Center for Integrative Studies, a special program that focuses on individualized and interdisciplinary academic study. Bennett returned to Japan where he had studied during his tenure at Johnston Center. He traveled in Asia and Europe with Keiko Yamanouchi. Keiko accompanied Ben's return to the U.S. when he entered graduate school at University of Oregon. There he studied and wrote with author Ken Kesey, most known for novels Sometimes A Great Notion and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which resulted in the completion of his MFA in creative writing in 1989. While in Eugene Ben and Keiko married and were later divorced. Continuing his education, Bennett attended the University of Liverpool, earning a master's degree in 1997 in British Literature, during which time he completed his thesis, "The Aesthetics of Mortality in the Middle English Lyric; and in 2001, he earned his PhD in American Literature, titling his dissertation, "Fictional Forms and Social Visions in the Works of Ken Kesey." Since 2001, Ben has taught creative writing and literature at several academic institutions in Oregon including Concordia University, Portland State University and Western Oregon State College. Many of his articles, essays and poems have been published. Prior to and in tandem with his professorial positions Bennett was employed for more than 20 years with the Department of Agriculture in Oregon, working in the Insect and Pest Prevention and Management Program. In addition to his love of literature Ben was intent on nature, science and ecology. Bennett is survived by his wife Jennifer Huffman of Camas, Washington; his sons, Jesse Hanson of Vancouver, Washington and Carter Huffman of Camas, Washington; his stepson, Keenan Wilson of Camas, Washington; his mother Pat Huffman of Claremont; his brother and sister-in-law, Jonathan Huffman and Sarah Farley of San Francisco; his siter and brother-in-law, Ann and Ned Garn of Tucson, Arizona; his niece and nephew, Madeleine and Ethan Garn of Tucson, Arizona; his uncle and aunt, Bill and Donna Bayless of Lakewood, and his cousins David Bayless, Karen Bayless-Feldman, Paul Bayless, Jr., Aaron Bayless, Diane Green, Debi Sterling, Darby Huffman, Katrina Holliingsworth, Janice Hanson, Sam Huffman, Teresa Hodson, Clark Tubbesing and Carole Lorre. He was preceded in death by his aunt, Betty Huffman; and by his uncles, Jack Huffman and Paul Bayless. Friends Scott Morison, Cindy Herzog, Greg Sullivan, Erin Wallace, Kevin and Christine Sullivan, and Erin Hanson join the family in mourning the loss of Ben. Donations may be made to the Bennett T. Huffman Memorial Account, established for his sons, Jesse Dylan Hanson and Carter Lee Huffman. Checks may be made out to the Bennett T. Huffman Memorial Account and mailed to Pat Huffman c/o Options, 885 S. Village Oaks Dr., Covina, CA 91724.