Stanley Bennett Obituary

Stanley Francis Bennett died on November 23, 2011, in Eureka, CA. He was born in Chico, CA, and spent most of his youth in Palo Alto. After serving in the Marines in WWII, he attended San Jose State. Since the late 1970's he lived in Ferndale, CA, where he built an international reputation as a wire sculptor. He is survived by his partner of eleven years, Kara Lynn Klarner and a host of arts admirers.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Dec. 8 to Dec. 11, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Stanley Bennett

13 Entries

Margaret Pritt

November 30, 2022

I am reminded of the artistry of Stan on a daily basis. He crafted 2 Magic Marble Machines for my 60th birthday just a year before his death. My grandchildren are fascinated by his machines, and they are a delight for everyone. Thank you, Stan, for the fascination I see in their eyes.

Margaret Pritt

November 30, 2021

So happy to share in the memory of Stan Bennett. We are fortunate to have visited his studio in Ferndale for many years and then became proud owners of 2 of his Magic Marble Machines. The marble machines are a source of enjoyment for our grandchildren & will be a wonderful treasure to pass on as part of our legacy. Thank you so much Stan...may your memory be for a blessing!

Margaret Pritt

November 30, 2020

Stanley is remembered almost daily as we look at the 2 wonderful Marble Machines in our house. We remember years of stopping by to see him at his workshop in Fetndale, marveling at his craftsmanship. Now our grandkids can enjoy his craftsmanship when they sit and watch the marbles roll & “step” down ladders & ring bells! So glad to have met him.

Scott Baranoff

January 5, 2014

I has glimpsed Stanley's work at a shop in La Jolla in 1990, and subsequently contacted him to arrange a commission. He built the perfect, personalized piece, and delivered it to my home in Nevada, by pickup truck, and stayed for a while. We absolutely enjoyed him, and continue to enjoy his machine. RIP

Andy Senasac

March 13, 2013

I first saw Stan Bennett's amazing Magic Marble Machines at The Pizza Machine restaurant in Danville, CA, in the 1970's. Everyone loved watching these ingenious kinetic sculptures as we waited for pizza.
In 2002, thanks to the technology of internet searches, I was able to find out who made the wire marble machines that had been at The Pizza Machine, and I tracked down Stan in Ferndale. We visited him in September 2002, and purchased a wonderful Marble Machine from him, which he modified per my request and then drove it himself down to Los Angeles to deliver it, and installed it himself in our home.
He was a great artist/inventor, and a really good person. Thanks Stan.

Margaret Pritt

August 12, 2012

Stan Bennett and his fabulous sculptures will be greatly missed. My family enjoyed many years of visiting his studio and I personally always talked to him about his art. I was fortunate to ask Stan to build 2 marble machines for me in 2010 for my anticipated 60th birthday in 2011. They will be pieces of art that I pass on to my children as a way to remember the wonderful times we had visiting Stan in Ferndale, CA... may he rest in peace.
Thank you Stan for all the memories.

victor casaus

February 26, 2012

Our encounter with Stan was nine years ago. I had purchased the last of remaining restaurants "The Pizza Machine" in Danville,Ca. Stan was commissioned to build Magic Marble Machines for each of the five pizza parlors in the early 70's. The marble machines were quite large averaging 3 feet high x 12 feet long.
In an dark obscure corner of my newly acquired pizza parlor, I noticed a dusty, neglected strange wire sculpture. Curious, I began to tinker with it and to my amazement the electric motors still worked!! As the 3/4 inch steel bearing traveled through intricate wire pathways, kinetic energy played an important role in the "roll" of the bearings, but would eventually fall out.
"Stan Bennett 1972" was formed in metal at the base of the sculpture as a clue of the creator I wished to contact and make repairs. Then told Stan had passed away, I called the Exploratorium. They would do the repairs if I donated the sculpture, I declined. Soon after I found a metal mechanical bird with a three foot wing span.
Months later, I'm told of a man claiming he built the marble machine is in the dining room. Skeptical, I walk towards a vintage, tall man, grey beard, glasses, flannel cowboy hat with a friendly smile, reaches out to shake my hand and says" Hi, I'm Stan Bennet and I built that contraption". Stunned I replied, " the late Stan Bennett?", he replies back,"I'm only late to my relatives in Livermore".
I explained to Stan the thousands of people the "marble machine" has touched and the importance that it be repaired. Stan volunteered his services and the "Kinetic Motion Sculpture" and metal bird were repaired one hour before our ribbon cutting.
Stan, You leave a legacy of smiles,imagination and entertainment to generations for many years.
THANK-YOU

R. Wright

December 28, 2011

I grew up with one of Stan's amazing marble machines in our home in Washington. As a child I loved it for its energy and complexity to keep the marbles moving--anticipating the next marble about to make a bell ring or whirl through a funnel. As an adult I've come to appreciate the true creativity and craftsmanship that went into the sculpture. This Christmas my 3 year old nephew fell in love with the machine--jumping up and down watching it work--a whole new generation in love with the machine.
What an amazing artist.
My heart goes out to his family and loved ones.

December 9, 2011

Kara Lynn, we were so saddened to learn of Stan's passing. We cherish the pieces we have of his. You are in our hearts.
Love,
Suzanne and Jon McBride
Palm Desert

Kay Reckord Ames

December 9, 2011

Kara Lynn: I'm so sorry for your loss. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers

Phylis Geller

December 8, 2011

I recall visiting Stan's shop/gallery every time I went to Ferndale, starting in the late 70's some time. His place and Hobart's were always "a must" on our excursions through the Victorian Village. He always had a smile and a bit of a story to share with his customers and visitors. Rest In Paradise, Stan.

Andy Stallman

December 7, 2011

Stan Bennett was my step-father, from the time I was 6. While never having kids of his own, I felt like I gained a second dad and a good, good friend. I remember the long talks we'd have at bedtime, with him standing in the doorway, patiently answering all the questions I could possibly throw at him while trying to fall asleep.
Right from the beginning, Stan introduced me to so many new and exciting hobbies. I loved to draw, and I could always take whatever I was working on to him and get his valuable feedback. He taught me a lot about illustrating. We built model airplanes from scratch using balsa wood frames wrapped with tissue paper treated with dope thinner to stretch the paper and harden it a bit for flight. These were either gliders (some really big), or propeller driven by a rubber band. He even made me and my brother replica models from the movie “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines”. I had the plane the Frenchman flew (sitting underneath the wing), while my brother had the plane that the Englishman flew (who eventually would win the race.) It wasn't long before we graduated to building and launching rockets. Stan always had a fascination for anything having to do with aviation, and he lovingly passed that on to me. I'm happy to be the proud owner of what I think is his finest sculpture of an airplane, called the “undulator”.
Stan gave a lot of himself to my brother and me, being a Den-Leader for the Cub Scouts, in addition to always being available to teach us something new … as he began making wire sculptures.
After Stan and my mother were divorced, he still was close to me, and continued to be a really positive figure in my life. When I graduated from high school (in Beaverton, Oregon), Stan had already relocated to Ferndale California to open his gallery and pursue his goal of becoming a full-time professional “wire-bender”. I moved to Ferndale that summer before going to college, and welded smaller parts for his marble machines, and other sculptures. What Stan made look very easy, I slogged my way through many clumsy welding efforts, with the pile of slag metal steadily growing underneath my workbench. Stan encouraged me to create my own sculptures which could also be for sale in his gallery. I recall making a gryphon launching himself off of a rock, and remember the great satisfaction I got when it actually sold.
That summer we took a road trip together to deliver ½ ton of furniture out to Colorado Springs. We shared the driving duties as we struggled to keep the van in proper driving condition. The weight of the load was more than the poor old wheels could take, and we cracked a couple of them. There we were: in the middle of a junk-yard in Winnemucca, sifting through discarded wheels and dodging rattle-snakes, trying to find something that would get us back on the road again. On our return trip, Stan wanted very much to introduce me to Taos, New Mexico. Like the slack-jawed youth that I was, I had my head buried in Star Wars magazines as we drove through that town – missing everything he had intended me to enjoy with him.
Stan was a very understanding person, and not particularly judgmental. He took people at face value and always chose fewer words than too many. He had great patience for those curious about his work, and I saw him gracefully answer the very same questions time and time again, as if it were the first time he had heard them. While he liked to play the grumpy old man card from time to time, those that knew him well, also knew it didn't run deep. He had a great sense of humor, particularly of the dry and sardonic type, as evidenced by the “Life Is Too Short Not to Live It as a Texan” bumber-sticker he proudly displayed during his tenancy in San Antonio.
I'll miss Stan, and I'll always be grateful for the role he played in my childhood.
Kara Lynn, my deep condolences go to you – I am glad you two got to share those 11 years together. Thank you for being there for him.
Andy

Kathy D

December 6, 2011

Stan was a very nice man and his Magic Marble Machines were very fasinating to watch. What a great artist he was.

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