Dr. John Richard Benfield — born Hans Bienenfeld in Vienna, Austria — died peacefully in his sleep at 94 years young on November 11, 2025. Beloved husband, father, grandfather, surgeon, teacher, mentor and friend, he moved through the world with a generosity of spirit and profound sense of responsibility to others. To his grandchildren, he was simply "Poppy" or "Poppa"—the man who always showed up, listened, loved unconditionally, and readily answered every late-night phone call from anyone, as if he were doing a surgical "on call" rotation.
John was the only child of Dr. Richard Bienenfeld and Charlotte (Lola) Glatter Bienenfeld. The Bienenfelds fled from Austria immediately after the onset of the German Anschluss in 1938 for a purported vacation, leaving nearly all their belongings behind. They eventually immigrated to New York City where they shared a one-bedroom apartment with another family of Viennese refugees. Though they spoke German in the home and clung to Viennese culture, they quickly adapted to life in America and changed their name to Benfield upon becoming U.S. citizens.
John graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1948 at age 17. He went on to graduate from Columbia College and the University of Chicago School of Medicine. His surgical residency at the University of Chicago was interrupted when he was drafted and sent to Korea, where he commanded the 44th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) Unit. The friendships he made in Asia with young Japanese academic surgeons became lifelong. After returning home from his military service, Dr. Benfield became Chief Resident and Instructor in Surgery at the University of Chicago, already the author of 15 peer-reviewed publications.
In 1963, John married Joyce Arlene Cohler, with whom he raised three children—Richard ("Ricky"), Robert ("Bobby"), and Nancy Jane ("Little One"). Joyce and John shared regular Thursday date-nights at the historic Santa Monica restaurant, Chez Jays, and traveled the world together. Family time was paramount: Dodger games were mandatory, Sundays and weeknight family dinners were unapologetically family time, and sunsets at the beach were sacred moments.
Professionally, John was highly respected by his colleagues and students alike. He began his career in academic medicine at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and three years later joined the faculty at UCLA Harbor General Hospital, where his students elected him as best teacher. He became Chairman of the Division of Surgery at the City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte, CA and finished his career in academic medicine as the first Chief of a new division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UC Davis. He returned to Los Angeles as Professor of Surgery Emeritus at UCLA, where he continued to participate in medical academia by regularly attending Surgical grand rounds and medical conferences right up to his passing. Throughout his career, Dr. Benfield also maintained an active clinical practice at the Veterans Administration Wadsworth and Martinez.
Dr. Benfield proudly published 240 peer-reviewed articles, 38 book chapters and 3 books. His peers elected him to several leadership positions, including President of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Western Thoracic Surgical Association, Thoracic Surgery Directors Association, and Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education. He was a Director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, served on 9 editorial boards and was invited to be visiting professor at universities throughout the U.S, Europe and Asia. Despite his many professional accolades, John plainly referred to himself as "a country boy from Vienna and New York trying to get along." And anyone who knew John understood that it was the pursuit of excellence more than titles that motivated him, along with curiosity, human connection, and the belief that one should always say yes to someone in need.
He wore tailored suits and a cowboy hat with equal confidence, loved martinis with two olives, and insisted on cars with the highest safety ratings. John relished sunset swims at the beach, after "everybody and his brother" had gone. He dragged his children to fish markets in Ensenada and art museums in Honolulu, certain that they would one day be grateful. John adored Hawaiian culture and art, swam in the ocean well into old age, and organized the U.S.A. swimming team for the 2011 European Maccabi Games in Vienna. John was one of four team members chosen to lead the Team USA, as it marched proudly into the Stephansplatz City Square during Opening Ceremonies. When asked for his advice to the Austrian people, John offered two words: "Be tolerant."
After his wife Joyce's death in 2003, John found love and companionship again with Mary Ann Kruke Shaw, whom he lovingly called MAKS, and they shared more than twenty beautiful years until John's death. They built a life filled with travel, friendship, ocean swims, operas and symphonies, elegant dinners, museum visits and a fierce commitment to each other.
In retirement, ever a teacher, advocate and student, John pursued numerous projects and academic pursuits. He worked with academic linguists to teach English as an International Language (EIL) to foreign authors who sought publication in U.S. peer reviewed academic publications. His work in medical linguistics was recognized when he was the Honored Guest of the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery and was an invited visiting professor at the University of Michigan's English Language Institute.
John always said "yes" to anyone who needed help navigating the complexities of the American health care system. He was proud of the excellence of medicine available in the U.S. but unsparing in his criticism of its inequity and profit motive. He spent countless unpaid hours guiding people toward faster, safer, better care. Even at 93, he organized a major panel on fiscal issues in U.S. health care for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, determined to keep speaking out for patients and students.
John was buried next to his wife, Joyce, at the Los Angeles National Cemetery, after a ceremony with full military honors. His service to the military with distinction made his passing on Veteran's Day especially poignant. John is survived by his children and their spouses (Rick & Karina Benfield, Bobby & Hanna Benfield, and Nancy & Chris Connery); his grandchildren Cody, Madison, Parker, Owen, Jake, Noah, Evan, Hailey, and Morgan; Mary Ann Shaw (and her sons Stephen and Matthew); and countless colleagues, students, and friends whose lives he changed for the better.
John saved too many lives to count, and just as important, he made life richer for everyone who crossed his path.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in memory of John R. Benfield, MD to the John Benfield Thoracic Surgery Fund at the University of Chicago. The purpose of the fund shall be determined by total gifts to the fund on January 01, 2028, and either be used to support the creation of the John R. Benfield Distinguished Professor of Thoracic Surgery or research and education in the area of thoracic surgery. Checks may be made payable to the "University of Chicago" with "Benfield Thoracic Surgery Fund" in the memo and sent to the following address: University of Chicago, ATTN: Gift Administration, 5235 S. Harper Court, 4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60615. Or, you can donate online at: giving.uchicago.edu/DrJohn-Benfield
John was the only child of Dr. Richard Bienenfeld and Charlotte (Lola) Glatter Bienenfeld. The Bienenfelds fled from Austria immediately after the onset of the German Anschluss in 1938 for a purported vacation, leaving nearly all their belongings behind. They eventually immigrated to New York City where they shared a one-bedroom apartment with another family of Viennese refugees. Though they spoke German in the home and clung to Viennese culture, they quickly adapted to life in America and changed their name to Benfield upon becoming U.S. citizens.
John graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1948 at age 17. He went on to graduate from Columbia College and the University of Chicago School of Medicine. His surgical residency at the University of Chicago was interrupted when he was drafted and sent to Korea, where he commanded the 44th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) Unit. The friendships he made in Asia with young Japanese academic surgeons became lifelong. After returning home from his military service, Dr. Benfield became Chief Resident and Instructor in Surgery at the University of Chicago, already the author of 15 peer-reviewed publications.
In 1963, John married Joyce Arlene Cohler, with whom he raised three children—Richard ("Ricky"), Robert ("Bobby"), and Nancy Jane ("Little One"). Joyce and John shared regular Thursday date-nights at the historic Santa Monica restaurant, Chez Jays, and traveled the world together. Family time was paramount: Dodger games were mandatory, Sundays and weeknight family dinners were unapologetically family time, and sunsets at the beach were sacred moments.
Professionally, John was highly respected by his colleagues and students alike. He began his career in academic medicine at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and three years later joined the faculty at UCLA Harbor General Hospital, where his students elected him as best teacher. He became Chairman of the Division of Surgery at the City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte, CA and finished his career in academic medicine as the first Chief of a new division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UC Davis. He returned to Los Angeles as Professor of Surgery Emeritus at UCLA, where he continued to participate in medical academia by regularly attending Surgical grand rounds and medical conferences right up to his passing. Throughout his career, Dr. Benfield also maintained an active clinical practice at the Veterans Administration Wadsworth and Martinez.
Dr. Benfield proudly published 240 peer-reviewed articles, 38 book chapters and 3 books. His peers elected him to several leadership positions, including President of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Western Thoracic Surgical Association, Thoracic Surgery Directors Association, and Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education. He was a Director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, served on 9 editorial boards and was invited to be visiting professor at universities throughout the U.S, Europe and Asia. Despite his many professional accolades, John plainly referred to himself as "a country boy from Vienna and New York trying to get along." And anyone who knew John understood that it was the pursuit of excellence more than titles that motivated him, along with curiosity, human connection, and the belief that one should always say yes to someone in need.
He wore tailored suits and a cowboy hat with equal confidence, loved martinis with two olives, and insisted on cars with the highest safety ratings. John relished sunset swims at the beach, after "everybody and his brother" had gone. He dragged his children to fish markets in Ensenada and art museums in Honolulu, certain that they would one day be grateful. John adored Hawaiian culture and art, swam in the ocean well into old age, and organized the U.S.A. swimming team for the 2011 European Maccabi Games in Vienna. John was one of four team members chosen to lead the Team USA, as it marched proudly into the Stephansplatz City Square during Opening Ceremonies. When asked for his advice to the Austrian people, John offered two words: "Be tolerant."
After his wife Joyce's death in 2003, John found love and companionship again with Mary Ann Kruke Shaw, whom he lovingly called MAKS, and they shared more than twenty beautiful years until John's death. They built a life filled with travel, friendship, ocean swims, operas and symphonies, elegant dinners, museum visits and a fierce commitment to each other.
In retirement, ever a teacher, advocate and student, John pursued numerous projects and academic pursuits. He worked with academic linguists to teach English as an International Language (EIL) to foreign authors who sought publication in U.S. peer reviewed academic publications. His work in medical linguistics was recognized when he was the Honored Guest of the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery and was an invited visiting professor at the University of Michigan's English Language Institute.
John always said "yes" to anyone who needed help navigating the complexities of the American health care system. He was proud of the excellence of medicine available in the U.S. but unsparing in his criticism of its inequity and profit motive. He spent countless unpaid hours guiding people toward faster, safer, better care. Even at 93, he organized a major panel on fiscal issues in U.S. health care for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, determined to keep speaking out for patients and students.
John was buried next to his wife, Joyce, at the Los Angeles National Cemetery, after a ceremony with full military honors. His service to the military with distinction made his passing on Veteran's Day especially poignant. John is survived by his children and their spouses (Rick & Karina Benfield, Bobby & Hanna Benfield, and Nancy & Chris Connery); his grandchildren Cody, Madison, Parker, Owen, Jake, Noah, Evan, Hailey, and Morgan; Mary Ann Shaw (and her sons Stephen and Matthew); and countless colleagues, students, and friends whose lives he changed for the better.
John saved too many lives to count, and just as important, he made life richer for everyone who crossed his path.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in memory of John R. Benfield, MD to the John Benfield Thoracic Surgery Fund at the University of Chicago. The purpose of the fund shall be determined by total gifts to the fund on January 01, 2028, and either be used to support the creation of the John R. Benfield Distinguished Professor of Thoracic Surgery or research and education in the area of thoracic surgery. Checks may be made payable to the "University of Chicago" with "Benfield Thoracic Surgery Fund" in the memo and sent to the following address: University of Chicago, ATTN: Gift Administration, 5235 S. Harper Court, 4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60615. Or, you can donate online at: giving.uchicago.edu/DrJohn-Benfield
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