Robert Charles Benson

Robert Charles Benson “Bob”, a longtime resident of Old Greenwich, Connecticut, died peacefully on September 18, 2023, at the age of 91. He was surrounded by his loving family. Bob was married to his wife Beverly Klinga Benson, for 32 years. He was a great father to his three children, and grandfather to eight grandchildren. Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, and raised in Boston, he was the adored son of Florence Emma Berry, and Francis Ludwig Benson.

In 1949, 6 feet 5-inch-tall Bob graduated from Newton High School. He was a good student, and a talented basketball and baseball player. He played the violin, and was a good dancer too. He had made it out of the Great Depression. Off Bob went by train, at the suggestion of a family friend, to the United States Coast Guard Academy, in New London, CT, where he would continue his academic and athletic pursuits. He traveled the world on the US Coast Guard Eagle Tall Ship, and made friends that would last a lifetime. Bob was proud to have led the Coast Guard contingent that marched in the Inauguration parade for President Eisenhower. He graduated as Ensign Benson in 1954, and served three years in Boston Harbor as the DWO, Gunnery and Engineering Officer, on a USCG BIBB boat. He received a National Defense Medal, and was later inducted into the Coast Guard Athletic Hall of Fame.

In 1957, Bob was hired as an engineer by Mead Paper Co., in Chillicothe, Ohio. He was a people person, and his strengths were quickly recognized to be an asset in the sales division. He was successful first at Mead Paper, and later Georgia-Pacific, where he was promoted to General Sales Manager. Bob continued to work well into his 70’s at Pequot Papers in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Later in life, Bob continued his interest in business by being an active investor, a shared passion with his wife Beverly, who along with Bob enjoyed studying the market. Bob and Bev traveled frequently, and loved to stay in touch with friends. At home he was a longtime member of the Rocky Point Club. Bob was a big sports fan, and in his later years followed almost every sport, and many different teams, but always the local home teams, in particular the UCONN Women’s basketball team. He liked winners. He could be hilariously critical of the two teams that stirred his heart the most, for the longest, the Boston Red Sox and the Ohio State football team.

To those he was closest to, even at the end, he was still larger than life. He was Uncle Bob to a few, and a good friend to many, and was cherished for his kind, steady, and sweet demeanor. Toward the end of his life, on the occasion of his 90th birthday, he was told by a family lawyer that an old, fantastic rumor had been verified, and that, in fact, he was distantly connected to the Swedish Royal family through his father’s mother, a Hallgren. He smiled a knowing smile. It was too good not to be true.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, and his sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Brad Greer. He is survived by his wife Beverly; his son Robert C Benson Jr, and daughter-in-law Kerry A Benson of East Matunuck, RI; his daughter Sarah Grow and son-in-law Schuyler Edwards Grow of Amagansett, NY; his daughter Georgia Ferretti and son-in-law Patrick Phillip Ferretti Jr of Waxhaw, NC; his eight grandchildren John, Hannah, Henry, Charlie, Scarlett, Margaret, Patrick and Peter, as well as his three nephews Jim, Jeff, and Peter. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Coast Guard Foundation, www.coastguardfoundation.org. Semper Paratus. Always Ready. And he was.

There will be a private celebration of life at the Coast Guard Academy in the Spring of 2024.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leopgallagherstamford.com for the Benson family.