Bennett William Kantola

KANTOLA M.D. , Bennett William
Dr. Bennett William Kantola, MD of Malibu, passed away at home on February 20, 2007. Born 1914 in Ely, Minnesota. The youngest of 11 children, he was born to Arvid and Emma Kantola, a family proud of their Finnish heritage. After working alongside his father in the iron mines, he worked his way through the University of Minnesota at a time when student loans had never been heard of, graduating from Medical School - during the height of the Depression. After enlisting in the Navy, Dr. Kantola served his internship at Mare Island Naval Hospital in California until 1942. That same year, he married Cecil Bruener and went on to the School of Aviation Medicine at Pensacola, Florida. He then continued his Navy Service in family practice and general internal medicine in the Pacific theater and various Naval dispensaries and hospitals until 1947. During that time, as a Lieutenant Commander and Flight Surgeon, he was assigned to a US Marine squadron - which air lifted wounded from Iwo Jima and Okinawa. In 1948, he set up a family practice in Westwood Village, CA, and later in Santa Monica. In 1958, he became a member of the active family practice staff at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica. He was a member, and former Chairman, of the Family Practice Committee. For over 25 years he was a member of the Internal Medicine Courtesy Staff at Santa Monica Hospital as well as a member of the Student Health Service Staff at UCLA for over 30 years.
In 1953 he was invited to help create and participate in what would become the Finlandia Foundation by the Finnish Consulate in Los Angeles. He was honored in 1994 for his longtime service and dedication to Finnish-American culture.
Dr. Kantola was a man loved by all who came in contact with him - especially his patients who revered him as much more than a physician. He was part of a dying breed of doctors who continued to make house calls long after the practice went out of fashion until his retirement at the age of 90.
True to his Finnish heritage, he loved to ski - and did - long into his 80's with his beloved wife, Cecil, by his side. He was a man who always carried a smile and loved nothing more than to surround himself with his family.
Dr. Kantola was preceded in death by his daughter, Cheryl, and is survived by his beloved wife Cecil; son Andrew and wife,Roberta of Sherman Oaks, CA, daughter; Laurel and husband Larry Thorne of Malibu, CA, and daughter; Kristin and husband Bill Reynolds of Santa Ynez, CA. Dr. Kantola was blessed with four grandchildren, Grant and Olivia Thorne and Laura and Alexis Reynolds.
Memorial service will be Friday, March 2 at 12:00 at Pierce Brothers, Westwood Village, 1218 Glendon Ave., Westwood Village. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to St. John's Hospital Program and Services or the Finnish Lutheran Church, 11520 Sherman Way, Sherman Oaks, CA 91406. 818-988-5394.