Scott Bennett

CHAMPAIGN - Senator Scott Bennett, 45, of Champaign passed away unexpectedly on Friday (Dec. 9, 2022) from brain cancer at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Scott was born on July 16, 1977, to Dr. Robert and Barbara Bennett, in Fort Campbell, Ky., where Robert was stationed in the Army. When he was an infant, the family moved to Gibson City, where five generations of his family have worked on their family farm, something Scott cherished. After Scott graduated from Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School in 1995, Scott went on to study history at Illinois State University, graduating in 1998. He then went on to law school at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated in 2002. 

In 1999, Scott earned an internship at the White House, where he served the Clinton administration in the Office of Presidential Gifts. It was here that he met Stacy Meredith, who had been assigned to the same office, and they entertained one another with imagined back stories of curious global and domestic gifts. They were married in 2002 and celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in August. In 2012, Scott and Stacy welcomed twins, Sam and Emma, whom Scott adored.

Scott started his career as a prosecutor at the city of Chicago and also worked for the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C. Though he could have pursued a high-paying career in corporate law, Scott longed to come back to his roots and the community he treasured. He returned to central Illinois to work as an assistant state's attorney in Bloomington-Normal and then in Champaign-Urbana. His most important work focused on seeking justice for child victims of crime, something he was passionate about and continued to work on even after he left the state's attorneys office.     

In 2015, he was appointed to fill Michael Frerichs' vacant Senate seat, where he was known for his efforts to rise above partisanship and find common ground. Scott was humbled and honored to serve his community for eight years as state senator and truly loved the 52nd District. He was a tireless advocate and champion for measures to protect and improve the environment, agriculture in Illinois and the quality of life for the most vulnerable in our state: children, families, older adults and individuals with developmental disabilities and mental-health challenges. 

During his tenure, he instituted protections to keep the drinking water in the Mahomet Aquifer safe, promoted compassionate courtrooms by authorizing the use of "comfort dogs," and teamed up with Treasurer Michael Frerichs to create the ABLE Act to assist individuals and families in saving money to cover the expenses for people with disabilities. He worked diligently to address the closure of waste pits across the state filled with toxic coal ash. As the chair of the Senate's Higher Education Committee, Scott fought to increase college affordability, championing the Know Before You Owe Private Education Loan Act and worked tirelessly to support the University of Illinois, Parkland College and Danville Area Community College.

Scott was a fierce advocate and was well-known for his humor and wit, an innate talent he used as a tool to heal and unite. In doing so, he would bring out laughter in others, putting his audience at ease and create space for connection. He treasured relationships with everyone; from his constituents and colleagues to his family and friends. No matter the relationship, Scott showed up as himself and genuinely cared. With empathy and sincere compassion, Scott listened to countless stories of hard times and always tried to help. But it was in the follow-up where Scott's goodness truly shone; through a text or a phone call, Scott was known for checking in and asking how you were doing and what he could do to help.

Scott's final act of service was to his beloved family: safely driving them home from the airport following a family trip. After tucking his children into bed, Scott said goodnight to Stacy and went to sleep. A few hours later, he was found unresponsive due to an undiagnosed brain tumor, and never regained consciousness.

Scott was preceded in death by his grandmother Charlene Bennett; grandmother Marge Barry; grandfather, Lee Barry; uncle, Dennis Barry; cousin, Crystal Barry; and mother-in-law, Mardelle Meredith.

He is survived by his wife and children; parents; brother, Rob Bennett; sister-in-law, Mabruka Yazidi; niece, Naima Yazidi-Bennett; uncles, Tom and Doug Bennett; aunt Carol Bennett-Barker; aunt Wanda Driscoll; aunt Carol Sanecki; father-in-law, Bill Meredith; many cousins and friends; and his dog, Betty White. 

Services will be held at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, Dec. 19, at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Scott's memory to CU Able or the Champaign Urbana Autism Network, causes Scott planned to focus on in the upcoming legislative session. Condolences may be offered at owensfuneralhomes.com.