Dery Bennett

Dery is one of the most admirable human beings I have ever met. He stands comfortably at the top of New Jersey's pantheon of environmentalists. As a young hawk-watcher at Sandy Hook, Dery took me under his wing, fed me, and made me part of the environmental community on the hook. For the nearly twenty years he mentored me, always leading by example. Dery enabled my students and I to pursue studies offshore by making the Littoral Society our home base. Indefatigable and incredibly witty, I...

My heart is with Dery's family at this time.
He will be greatly missed.
I have been on several ALS trips with this wonderful group of people through the years. I will always remember Dery opening the fresh clams for us on the back of his memorable pickup truck. He tried to teach me how to do it. . I still can't.
May he rest in peace.
Fondly,
Beverly Webb

I can hear Dery's laughter from where he is in heaven, telling stories to entertain those around him. We will certainly miss him.

Dery was kind and gentle.
Barefoot, he beat back the developers
With his fishing rod.

I worked for twenty years with Dery on publications for the American Littoral Society. He remains one of the most unique and interesting people that I ever met. My father, Bill Howitt, worked with Dery for almost 30 years from the time Dery joined the ALS in 1967. Dery's wit and intelligence was rivaled only by his caring for causes that protected the environment and preserved it for future generations to enjoy the way he did. His vision and his life's work will be an inspiration always. My...

As a high school friend of Melanie's, I spent alot of time at their home. I will always remember Mr. Bennett's passion for protecting the world around us. My prayers are with his family. Tally

my condolences goes out to the family of Mr. Bennett. Death is difficult to endure, especially when its the death of a loved one. We all look forward to the time when death and sickness will be no more. Until then, may the God of all comfor bring comfort to the family.

My deepest condolences to the Bennett family. I had the pleasure of meeting Dery at a few events in support of the kayak launch at Maple Cove, and he was a very kind man and ambitious and truly wanted to help our group. I hear nothing short of wonderful of all the things he did with the Littoral Society, and he will be greatly missed. My prayers are with the family. As an Environmental Scientist, I genuinely appreciate all the work he has done and I hope his legacy continues on!

My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family at this time.
Mr Bennett will be in my memory as a kind, intelligent, gentle man with good humor who always tried his best to achieve and succeed.
May only the good times be in your hearts and minds at this time.
All my best today and always,
alison black, physical therapist