Benjamin Watson

1990 - 2026

Let's imagine, for a second, that you don't know Ben. You run into him at a gas station-or more likely, at the trailhead-and you ask him for directions. He spends a good six and a half minutes answering your questions about a couple turns. It isn't much time, but it feels like he gave you four times the effort as the average person. You later find his directions were spot-on to the last detail. And you think: "Man, I'm glad I ran into that guy."

For strangers, friends, and family alike, that's Benjamin Ingersoll Watson. Born May 15, 1990, Ben passed on or around January 18, 2026, doing what he truly loved: being outside and enjoying a view.

Ben would always greet you with a warm "hey buddy" and a radiant smile. Despite his imperfect pitch, he loved to sing out loud, especially songs he made up. His ideal night was a Costco-sized bag of gummy bears, paired with The Lord of the Rings. Never mind that he had read the books, and seen the movies, seven times by the age of fourteen.

Ben got a kick out of making his sisters laugh, and his attempts to tease them tended to backfire into a joke about himself, causing him to blush and giggle. He inherited his silliness from his mother, and his welcoming nature from his father. Or maybe it was the other way around.

His absentmindedness was one part baffling and two parts endearing. He once tried the "oven trick" on his drenched cell phone, but was unaware that he knocked it off the rack onto the burner, and then forgot about it entirely. If Ben was late because he forgot his wallet, you weren't mad-just glad he was finally with you.

Ben sported shorts in February, kept shoes till the soles wore through, and had a love/hate relationship with his 200,000+ mile Honda. He could turn anything into a bat and ball for a quick game of home run derby, and he loved the "plop" sound that a narrow rock makes when thrown high into the river.

He was incredibly talented at everything he did-from pickup basketball to chess-yet always chalked it up to a "lucky day." He was the kind of guy during trivia who answers: "I'm not sure, my hunch is it's the Caspian Sea." Ben was undefeated in hunches. He made losing to him enjoyable.

Ben's escapades brought him northward and upward. He spent his summers-and his winters still in shorts-visiting family in Boston and Cape Cod. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Environmental Science and received his Master's in Geography from the University of Wisconsin.

Ben, however, was more likely to talk about where he'd traveled rather than his degrees. He completed the entire Appalachian Trail under the trail name "Professor Turtle," which was given to him for his hunched look under the weight of his pack and his propensity for signing logbooks with flora facts. He eventually moved to Seattle where he frequented the slopes and summited Mount Rainier four times, among other local peaks. He dedicated his life and career to both enjoying the outdoors and making it a shade safer and more beautiful.

But Ben always found time to return to his hometown of Richmond, Virginia. Though not an obvious place for a mountain-man to come of age, Ben grew up just yards away from the James River park system and its endless network of trails, herons, "sallys" (salamanders), quirky people, and delicious paw paws. His favorite spot lies along the river next to Richmond's famous arched train bridge.

Ben graduated high school in Richmond from Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, where he excelled at track and field and informally tutoring whoever was lucky enough to sit beside him in science class. He was All-State in the 4x800 meter relay and could always be relied on to "walk 'em down" in the final stretch.

Maggie Walker was also where he met his high school sweetheart, love of his life, and wife, Rena. Their romantic journey culminated in a picturesque outdoor wedding at Libby Hill in Richmond. Ben even proposed to Rena at the most "Ben" place possible: atop the very same train bridge near his childhood home. The potential CSX fine was well worth enjoying another amazing view with someone he loved.

Ben was the kind of person who put his friends, his family, and even strangers, first. His warm smile was both affable and goofy. You always enjoyed his company, and he yours. The world will miss him and his gestures of kindness, both large and small. We love you Ben. May you rest easy at the final peak of life.

Ben is survived by his wife, Rena Hamzey, his twin sister, Amanda, his younger sister, Abby, and his parents Rob and Meg. A memorial service for Ben will be held on May 30, 2026 at Maggie L. Walker Governor's School. More details will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Washington's National Park Fund or the Northwest Avalanche Center.