Benjamin Berry Thelin

Benjamin Berry Thelin, age 75, died on November 11, 2005. He was preceded in death by parents, the Reverend Canon Harold and Sue B. Thelin, of San Antonio, Texas. He was born on September 5, 1930, in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Kent School, Kent, Connecticut in 1949, and graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1953. He married Patricia Owen Feid on June 11, 1957. Benjamin Thelin was an Air Force pilot, separating to fly with Pan-American Grace Airways. After serving in Florida and South America, Benjamin transitioned into financial services. Working first with Crocker Bank in California, he joined Bank of America and served in the Foreign Bank Division, in Lima, Peru, Okinawa, Japan, and Republic of Singapore. Benjamin left to serve as Chief Financial Officer of Enen and Associates. Upon returning to the United States, he joined First National Bank in Reno, Nevada, while residing at Incline Village, Lake Tahoe. Ben continued to use his financial background assisting colleagues in commercial real estate development projects. Upon retiring to San Antonio, Texas, Benjamin joined St. Francis Academy for Girls as a teacher of English and Mathematics. Benjamin established an International Baccalaureate program for Bilingual Education at St. Francis, the first of its kind in San Antonio. The program was funded through private donations from Benjamin's prep and college schools. When St. Francis Academy closed, Benjamin entered full retirement by mentoring local San Antonio business leaders for bilingual and business development. Benjamin derived great pleasure watching his former students succeed in their business efforts. During these years Benjamin continued flying when possible, establishing a firm habit of gliding and parachuting and doing so until the final weeks of his life. Benjamin supported the Episcopal Church, teaching Bethel courses at St. Luke's, and as an active parishioner at St. Francis Episcopal. Benjamin graduated from Kent School Cum Laude, receiving the Columbia Cup in recognition of his all round contribution to the school and student body. Neither Kent nor Union could have asked for a more ardent supporter and living example of the schools purposes. Benjamin is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Patricia, three daughters Dr. Lisa Ann Hammond, M.D., and spouse Kevin Lee Hammond of San Antonio, Patricia Carol Berg and spouse Dr. Jonathan H. Berg, PhD. of Elgin, Illinois, and Margaret Owen Thelin Bowman and spouse Dr. Steven Patrick Bowman, M.D. of San Antonio, and their children; Alexandra Lauren White, Trevor Thelin White, Sean Davidson White of Illinois, and William Benjamin Thelin Bowman and Joshua Owen Braeden Bowman of San Antonio, cousin Dr. Carol Estrada and spouse Dr. Tulio Estrada, M.D. of Albuquerque, New Mexico, uncle Honorable Howard Thelin, Esq., and spouse Vivian of Glendale, CA, and adopted sister Arlene and spouse Colonel Edward Parchinski of Westminster, CA. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Francis Episcopal Church at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 18, 2005, with internment at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 2:15 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Francis Outreach Mission.