Benjamin A. Oremland

Benjamin Albert Oremland was born Sept. 29, 1949, in Washington DC, with his blue jeans on. Ben, his sister Faye, and brothers Bob and Jim were raised in Silver Spring, MD by their parents Sue and Sol, who nurtured an extremely close knit family of blood relatives and “friends as family” through frequent celebrations, family reunions, and holidays. Despite his efforts to the contrary, Ben earned his bar mitzvah at Temple Israel before attending Sligo Junior High and Northwood High School. Along with his best friend Marc, with their “gears set stubborn on standing, they broke all the rules, strafed their old high school, never once gave thought to landing” - and managed to get out of trouble almost as soon as they got into it. He frequented Ocean City, MD, when it only went as high as 76th Street, both before and long after, his “graduation gown lay in rags at his feet.” He attended University of Maryland (go Terps) and was a born and bred Washington football fan (HTTC).

Ben began his career at the menswear store Raleigh’s, where he met his wife, Sue. They settled in Vienna and Ben began a successful career in the mortgage business. He cultivated friendships through golf outings and work “vacations” to the islands. He and Sue enjoyed taking family to visit the memorials in DC, and Ben particularly loved the cherry blossoms. They raised their four kids “not to look into the sites of the sun - oh but Mama, that’s where the fun is.” He taught them the finer points of bike riding, sledding, crab picking, boogie boarding, some to more success than others, and an appreciation of Jewish delicacies such as chopped liver and gefilte fish. With family in tow, his summers spent in Ocean City shifted slightly north to Bethany Beach, where they spent vacations each summer eating DB’s fries with vinegar and Old Bay, Melvo Sno-Cones (ice is money), and Candy Kitchen. They spent countless hours on the Rehoboth boardwalk throwing ball after ball toward the silver cup in goblet toss, launching frogs at the frog bog, and winning stuffed animals at the squirt gun game. Ben nearly single-handedly bankrolled the staff of Funland each summer through claw machine attempts alone. He and Sue embraced each other’s traditions, celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah with their children as well as memorable shared Passover Seders with extended family. He was a lifelong dog lover, managing a pet care business after his retirement and before his and Sue’s subsequent move to Richmond, VA. There, they enjoyed watching birds and spending time coloring on their screened in porch as well as sampling the excellent RVA Jewish food scene. Ben loved to play cards and word games, and listen to music including Bruce Springsteen and motown. Humor was a constant throughout his life, whether repeating funny lines from Seinfeld or Curb Your Enthusiasm, rewatching Christmas Vacation, or telling jokes (good or bad). More than anything else, he loved reading and playing games with his grandchildren.

Ben passed away on July 20, 2022 in the company of his loving family and under the care of Bon Secours Hospice House. He is preceded in death by his parents Sue and Sol Oremland, sister Faye Ganss, and brother Bob Oremland as well as beloved dogs Mickey, Nils, and Lainey. He is survived by his wife, Sue, of Richmond, VA and his brother James Oremland (Marsha) of Reisterstown, MD as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Ben’s legacy includes his children Mollie (Steve) Morneau of Falls Church, VA; Zack (Erin) Oremland of Bon Air, VA; Matthew (Lucy) Oremland of Albany, NY; Abby (Zo) Boyd of Richmond, VA; and eleven beloved grandchildren: T Rose, Linc, Jax, Zettie Belle, Olive, Benji, Judah Sol, June Bug, Jules, Emmie Sue, and Brookie Girl (yes, Bubbie, they’re all good babies).

A memorial service will be held on Sunday July 31 at 12pm at Woody's Funeral Home, 1771 N. Parham Rd, Richmond, VA with reception to follow. Please share your memories and photos at www.dignitymemorial.com under Ben’s name. “We just sit around talking about the old times… she says when she feels like crying, she starts laughing, thinking about glory days.”

From Sue:

I walked into Raleigh’s in the fall of 1974 and of course found something I had to have. I asked for an application and instead of credit, I was handed a job application. Fate! And thus began my short- lived career as a desk girl.

Mr. Oremland would flirt with me one day and be aloof the next. Taking matters into my own hands, I asked him if he wanted to go to a party with me. Once he said yes, I had to figure out what to do as there really was no party planned. We went out with friends that night, November 2nd. By December 1st we were engaged, and married May 3rd.

We always felt we were soul mates, meant to be. I often wondered at my good fortune, Ben was smart, charming, hard working, loved me, and was dedicated to our children. Education was always crucial for his children and it was there, not on the playing field, he wanted them to excel. But that didn’t stop him from teaching him how to boogie board or go flying down our hill on a sled - usually with one of them hanging on his back! And that DB fries are to be eaten with vinegar, Surf’s Up was the best sub, and nothing beat a Melvo snow cone on a hot beach day!

Most nights Ben was there with me helping to get the kids all bathed, books read, and into bed. He loved teaching them whatever he could, whatever they showed an interest in. He also loved that the kids friends were often at our house playing games, sledding, just being kids and enjoying life! He proudly attended the kids high school and college graduations. But he most enjoyed their weddings! They each found a special person to share their lives with and that was something he valued. He was very proud of his children! While nothing pleased him more than sitting around with his kids, his love of all the grandchildren knew no bounds! They knew he would want a hug and kiss when they saw him. As they got older he enjoyed coloring in his books with them, Lego’s, search and finds, and of course, sharing ice cream and candy! Ben was a very special man with many special gifts.

I wouldn’t chose any other man in the world to be the father of my children. Nor any other man would I want at my side all those years! We had a wonderful life together!

“ Now I’ve had the time of my life, and I owe it all to you”!