Daniel Wahlin Benson

Daniel Wahlin Benson, known affectionately as Dan, died peacefully in his home on August 4, 2024, at the age of 83 in Darien, CT. Born on April 30, 1941, in Everett, Washington, he was the son of the late Reverend Caryl Victor Benson and Dorothy Wahlin (Anderson) Benson.

Dan's early years were spent in Fairfield, CT and he attended Northfield Mount Hermon school. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1963 with a Bachelor's Degree in History. After graduation, Dan's interest in medicine was sparked and he pursued a medical degree. He graduated from the School of Medicine, University of Rome in 1970. His academic pursuits laid a sturdy foundation for the intellectual curiosity that defined much of his life.

While studying abroad, he met his Australian wife, Julie Wallnutt in London and they spent two years in Rome before they married on March 4, 1972 at Salem Lutheran Church where his father was pastor and officiated. Dan completed his internship and residency in New York City, before they moved to Vero Beach, Florida in 1976 where Dan began private practice for Orthopedic Surgery. He devoted his life to providing orthopedic care and took great pride in his affiliation with the Los Angeles and Vero Beach Dodgers. He also served as the team doctor for the local Vero Beach High School Fighting Indians football team. In his later years, he devoted his time to doing medical reviews for insurance companies and always enjoyed connecting with the professional athletes.

Dan's personal life was rich with love and laughter, shared with his wife Julie and their children, Elissa (Mark) of Lexington, MA, Amanda of Darien, CT, and Nigel of Darien, CT. He has one sister Janetha Benson, a neice Sarah and nephew Mark. He cherished his grandchildren and loved the bantor back and forth with his five grandsons: Camden, Colin, Mitchell, & Shane Maguire and Spencer Segura Jr and only granddaughter, Genevieve Segura.

Dan was known for his masterful storytelling, humor, and sharp wit, and could tell stories that would would write themselves, captivating his audience with enlightening and entertaining tales. Dan's intellect was matched by his compassion; he was a very generous and loving individual who embraced life's complexities with a heart of gold.

Passionate about sailing, Dan spent countless hours navigating the waters in Florida and the Bahamas aboard his prized vessels, notably the 49 ft Halberg Rassy called Bumerang. The name Bumerang was a tribute to his Swedish heritage for the spelling and his wife's Australian roots. He was a frequent visitor to many a boat shows.

In addition to sailing, he enjoyed spending time at his home on Blue Hill Bay on the coast of Maine, engaging in fireside chats with his family, savoring lobsters and mussels. He also cherished moments on the intercoastal in Vero Beach, Florida, at his house in the Anchor.

Dan's love for boating was only paralleled by his enthusiasm for cars, owning multiple sports cars that were as bright and spirited as he was. A connoisseur of Italian culture, Dan cherished its wine, food, and opera, celebrating his Swedish heritage with equal fervor, often reflected in his love for traditional Swedish smorgasbords and Christmas decorations. His love of travel was prevalent throughout his life, and he was an avid sports fan, thoroughly enjoying watching his grandchildren play football, tennis, field hockey and baseball in his later years.

Please join us in honoring the remarkable life of Daniel Wahlin Benson for a Celebration of Life to be held at 24 Tokeneke Trail, Darien, CT, on August 14, 2024, at 5 pm. His memory will sail on in the hearts of all who knew him. At his request there will be a private burial at his family's gravesite in Cannon Falls, Minnesota next to his mother and father.