Benjamin Youngman Bigler Jr.

After attending a few years of public school during his boyhood in Buffalo, his mother received an inheritance that allowed him to attend the prestigious Nichols School, a private preparatory school, which he said changed his life.

Without that good fortune, Ben would probably not have met his future life partner of 65 years, Mary (Mollie) McKenna Bigler, who attended nearby Buffalo Seminary. It was Mollie who asked Ben to be her escort at the coming-out (debutante) ball, and their romance soon took off that winter. They stayed close throughout college, Ben attending the University of Virginia (UVA) while Mollie attended Goucher College in Maryland. They were married after Mollie’s graduation at the historic Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, VA.

At UVA, Ben was an active member of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity, where he held various offices between 1953 - 55. After receiving his BA in History in June 1955, he was commissioned as a 2N Lieutenant, Transportation Corps, and served in the US Army for two years before completing his service in August 1957.

Ben was also a family man. He and Mollie had four remarkable daughters who inherited his wit, hard work ethic, and soft spot for dogs and animals. They are Anne, Susan, Elizabeth (Betsy), and Mary. As dedicated as he was to his career, Ben was equally devoted to their endeavors and always found the time to support their school, music, art, or sporting events. He freely offered his counsel throughout their lives, careers, and families. He enjoyed family beach vacations but also made a point to take memorable trips with each daughter.

Ben had a long and well-tenured career in sales and marketing, moving his family across various suburbs and towns in the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and the Midwest. Throughout his career, he was promoted many times, working in offices in the largest cities along the East Coast, including Cleveland, OH; Boston, MA; Philadelphia, PA; and New York City. No city was too big for Ben and his charismatic personality, which every good salesman needs!

Later in life, Ben and Mollie moved back to Williamsburg, VA. Being a history major and possessing a strong connection to his beloved Virginia, it should be no surprise that Ben enjoyed studying the American Civil War and Williamsburg’s colonial past. Some of his greatest pleasures came from teaching in one form or another. He delivered courses for The Christopher Wren Association, a branch of the esteemed William & Mary College. Three of his daughters chose to follow in Ben and Mollie’s footsteps by marrying at Bruton Parish.

After enjoying nearly 20 years of retirement in Williamsburg, Ben and Mollie moved to Doylestown, PA, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They include William (Will) and Eleanor (Nell) Amari, Benjamin (Ben) Callanan, and Matthew (Matt) Sullivan. All four grandchildren enjoyed spending time with Ben.

Will and Nell fondly recall his visits to Philadelphia, where he took them to the Constitution Center, the Liberty Bell, and downtown Market Street, describing the historical significance of every alley, house, and monument in Old City. He had a gift for retaining knowledge and a textbook mind.

His grandson Ben will always remember the history his namesake passed along, whether from his own life or the books on his shelves, often shared over grilled cheese sandwiches in Doylestown.

Matt’s earliest memories include running around Ben’s Doylestown house and sitting at the table with both grandparents. More recently, Matt’s visits with grandad always included a chance for him to play the piano; his grandfather called him a prodigy. Grandad was his biggest fan, and he often tapped along with the music and made sure the Brookdale lobby was free of distractions, including kicking out other people and turning the TV off!

He is survived by his four daughters, three sons-in-law, and four grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Nichols School, which will be earmarked for needs-based student scholarships at https://nicholsadvancement.org/campaigns/nicholsfund25_26

Ben will be interred at Bruton Parish Church at a memorial service on March 7, at 11 a.m., where his beloved Mollie was interred in December 2021. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends, but they are happy that he can finally be with his wife once again.