Left to cherish his memory are his father, Ben De Vivo, mother, Norma De Vivo (née Di Lullo), his brothers, Aldo, Fred, and Raymond De Vivo, and brother-in-law, Jonathan Alexander,
his sisters, Anna Alexander and Rose De Vivo, his sister-in-law, Suzanne De Vivo, his nieces, Nicole and Jessica De Vivo, and nephews, Abe and Nathan Alexander, and Matthew and Fred De Vivo,
Benny was born on February 2, 1962 in the Bronx, New York. He was the most beautiful baby in the hospital nursery and among all his siblings, by far, Benny was the most special person in his family. Although Benny was born brain injured and faced the most incredible challenges throughout his life, he lived life to the fullest and never ceased to enjoy all of life’s simple pleasures with gusto.
Benny had a great sense of humor and could be quite the rascal and practical joker, like his early days in the Bronx when he ran away from his sister Anna, he was 3 years old and ended up a mile away from home worrying the heck out of his family, getting his sister into lots of trouble and then showing up about 25 minutes later like nothing happened and he was just out for a run thank you very much. Or, the time Benny decided to visit one his parents’ neighbors in Rockland County and explore the contents of their refrigerator, making himself quite at home, and giving new meaning to the adage, love thy neighbor. Or, on Thanksgiving when eyeing the turkey sitting in the kitchen before it reached the table, Benny took the warning not to touch that turkey before dinner as a clear invitation to rip the leg right out of it, and then laughing and waving it around daring us to just try and take it away. And then there was Benny’s first time at the local movie theatre when reacting with immeasurable excitement to an adventurous scene involving a run away train and demonstrating the full melodious range of his vocal cords, Benny made quite a splash with an extra large popcorn most of which ended up on the folks sitting in the row behind us.
Benny was also absolutely passionate about food; he loved his mother’s meatballs, he loved pizza, and hot dogs, salami, and cheese. He loved ice cream, and Carvel cake, and Dunkin Donuts. And the speed and dexterity with which Benny consumed food was downright supernatural.
Benny also loved the water. Sun, rain or thunder, it was nearly impossible to get him out of the swimming pool. It often took a few strong men and the promise of hot dogs and pizza.
Benny’s running skills won him first place in the 1978 New York Special Olympics. His passion for food played a role in this as well as it seems his coach got Benny to run extra fast by dangling a Twinkie at the finish line.
Benny played a major role in improving the lives of other developmentally disabled people. As a resident of Letchworth Village in Rockland County New York, Benny was one of ten litigants named in a class action law suit that resulted in the permanent closure of this institution of widespread abuse and inhumanity. This action opened the door for the residents to be transitioned to residential group homes. Benny truly treasured the last 27 years of his life as a member of his loving group home family while living close by and continuing to be part of the lives of his parents and siblings, nieces and nephews.
Benny shaped the lives of his entire family. He brought them joy; he made them close and made them whole. Benny made us better and he will always be loved and cherished by all who knew him.
The wake will be held on May 22, 2022, hours: 4;00 PM - 7:00 PM ET, at:
Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home
321 South Main Street
New City, NY 10956
Phone 845-634-6110
Funeral services will be held on May 24, 2022, at 10:00 AM ET, at:
Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home
321 South Main Street
New City, NY 10956
Phone 845-634-6110
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to one or more of the following charities:
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
Special Olympics, New York
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