"Norman Joseph Benito, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2014 at Stanford University Medical Center surrounded by his loving family. He was 82.
Norman was born in Santa Cruz at Sister's Hospital on May 29, 1931. He grew up in Santa Cruz and was a graduate of Holy Cross High School where he lettered in football, baseball, and basketball. When he was sixteen he got a part time job at Brenkwitz Mortuary (then located on Laurel St.), there he developed an interest in helping people during their time of loss. Following his high school graduation he enrolled at San Francisco College of Mortuary Science, where he graduated with a degree in mortuary science. He served for four years in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War as a Corpsman. First stationed at Oakland Naval Hospital, and then overseas on the USS James E. Kyes. During his military service, Norman received numerous decorations.
In 1948 he met the love of his life, the neighbor girl from across the street, Maureen Bregante. It was a love affair that lasted 65 years. In 1953, Norman and Maureen were married in Holy Cross Catholic Church. They lived for a short time in Long Beach until his discharge from the Navy, they then returned to Santa Cruz County where he worked at Mehl's Mortuary in Watsonville. He later returned to Santa Cruz where he worked for over twenty years at White's Mortuary. In 1976, he ventured into business starting his own funeral home, Norman's Family Chapel. Truly a family enterprise he worked with his wife, son, father, father in law and mother in law. In 1993, he sold the business upon retirement.
Norman was member of Holy Cross Church his entire life. He was also active in countless organizations many of which he served as an officer or president. He was a fifty year member of the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, Marconi Club where he served two terms as club president, Knights of Columbus, CPDES, Italian Catholic Federation and the Sons of Italy where he was named "Man of the Year". He also served on the boards of Dominican Hospital Foundation, Santa Clara University, the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz and the California Funeral Directors Association. He was formerly a member of the Surf City Kiwanis Club where he served as club president, the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Druids.
He was a generous man with a big heart and had a deep caring for children. In his life he contributed generously to under privileged children and to Saint Jude's. He was also very active in youth sports including Santa Cruz Little League, where he and others started the T-Ball League for younger children. He also served as league president and coached for many years. He was an active supporter and fund raiser for Marello Prep High School. He was an avid sports fan and loved the Forty Niners and the Giants...
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Maureen Benito of Santa Cruz; his son, Gary Benito and his wife Valerie of Santa Cruz..."
Norman was born in Santa Cruz at Sister's Hospital on May 29, 1931. He grew up in Santa Cruz and was a graduate of Holy Cross High School where he lettered in football, baseball, and basketball. When he was sixteen he got a part time job at Brenkwitz Mortuary (then located on Laurel St.), there he developed an interest in helping people during their time of loss. Following his high school graduation he enrolled at San Francisco College of Mortuary Science, where he graduated with a degree in mortuary science. He served for four years in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War as a Corpsman. First stationed at Oakland Naval Hospital, and then overseas on the USS James E. Kyes. During his military service, Norman received numerous decorations.
In 1948 he met the love of his life, the neighbor girl from across the street, Maureen Bregante. It was a love affair that lasted 65 years. In 1953, Norman and Maureen were married in Holy Cross Catholic Church. They lived for a short time in Long Beach until his discharge from the Navy, they then returned to Santa Cruz County where he worked at Mehl's Mortuary in Watsonville. He later returned to Santa Cruz where he worked for over twenty years at White's Mortuary. In 1976, he ventured into business starting his own funeral home, Norman's Family Chapel. Truly a family enterprise he worked with his wife, son, father, father in law and mother in law. In 1993, he sold the business upon retirement.
Norman was member of Holy Cross Church his entire life. He was also active in countless organizations many of which he served as an officer or president. He was a fifty year member of the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, Marconi Club where he served two terms as club president, Knights of Columbus, CPDES, Italian Catholic Federation and the Sons of Italy where he was named "Man of the Year". He also served on the boards of Dominican Hospital Foundation, Santa Clara University, the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz and the California Funeral Directors Association. He was formerly a member of the Surf City Kiwanis Club where he served as club president, the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Druids.
He was a generous man with a big heart and had a deep caring for children. In his life he contributed generously to under privileged children and to Saint Jude's. He was also very active in youth sports including Santa Cruz Little League, where he and others started the T-Ball League for younger children. He also served as league president and coached for many years. He was an active supporter and fund raiser for Marello Prep High School. He was an avid sports fan and loved the Forty Niners and the Giants...
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Maureen Benito of Santa Cruz; his son, Gary Benito and his wife Valerie of Santa Cruz..."
"Norman Joseph Benito, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2014 at Stanford University Medical Center surrounded by his loving family. He was 82.
Norman was born in Santa Cruz at Sister's Hospital on May 29, 1931. He grew up in Santa Cruz and was a graduate of Holy Cross High School where he lettered in football, baseball, and basketball. When he was sixteen he got a part time job at Brenkwitz Mortuary (then located on Laurel St.), there he developed an interest in helping people during their time of loss. Following his high school graduation he enrolled at San Francisco College of Mortuary Science, where he graduated with a degree in mortuary science. He served for four years in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War as a Corpsman. First stationed at Oakland Naval Hospital, and then overseas on the USS James E. Kyes. During his military service, Norman received numerous decorations.
In 1948 he met the love of his life, the neighbor girl from across the street, Maureen Bregante. It was a love affair that lasted 65 years. In 1953, Norman and Maureen were married in Holy Cross Catholic Church. They lived for a short time in Long Beach until his discharge from the Navy, they then returned to Santa Cruz County where he worked at Mehl's Mortuary in Watsonville. He later returned to Santa Cruz where he worked for over twenty years at White's Mortuary. In 1976, he ventured into business starting his own funeral home, Norman's Family Chapel. Truly a family enterprise he worked with his wife, son, father, father in law and mother in law. In 1993, he sold the business upon retirement.
Norman was member of Holy Cross Church his entire life. He was also active in countless organizations many of which he served as an officer or president. He was a fifty year member of the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, Marconi Club where he served two terms as club president, Knights of Columbus, CPDES, Italian Catholic Federation and the Sons of Italy where he was named "Man of the Year". He also served on the boards of Dominican Hospital Foundation, Santa Clara University, the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz and the California Funeral Directors Association. He was formerly a member of the Surf City Kiwanis Club where he served as club president, the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Druids.
He was a generous man with a big heart and had a deep caring for children. In his life he contributed generously to under privileged children and to Saint Jude's. He was also very active in youth sports including Santa Cruz Little League, where he and others started the T-Ball League for younger children. He also served as league president and coached for many years. He was an active supporter and fund raiser for Marello Prep High School. He was an avid sports fan and loved the Forty Niners and the Giants...
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Maureen Benito of Santa Cruz; his son, Gary Benito and his wife Valerie of Santa Cruz..."
Norman was born in Santa Cruz at Sister's Hospital on May 29, 1931. He grew up in Santa Cruz and was a graduate of Holy Cross High School where he lettered in football, baseball, and basketball. When he was sixteen he got a part time job at Brenkwitz Mortuary (then located on Laurel St.), there he developed an interest in helping people during their time of loss. Following his high school graduation he enrolled at San Francisco College of Mortuary Science, where he graduated with a degree in mortuary science. He served for four years in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War as a Corpsman. First stationed at Oakland Naval Hospital, and then overseas on the USS James E. Kyes. During his military service, Norman received numerous decorations.
In 1948 he met the love of his life, the neighbor girl from across the street, Maureen Bregante. It was a love affair that lasted 65 years. In 1953, Norman and Maureen were married in Holy Cross Catholic Church. They lived for a short time in Long Beach until his discharge from the Navy, they then returned to Santa Cruz County where he worked at Mehl's Mortuary in Watsonville. He later returned to Santa Cruz where he worked for over twenty years at White's Mortuary. In 1976, he ventured into business starting his own funeral home, Norman's Family Chapel. Truly a family enterprise he worked with his wife, son, father, father in law and mother in law. In 1993, he sold the business upon retirement.
Norman was member of Holy Cross Church his entire life. He was also active in countless organizations many of which he served as an officer or president. He was a fifty year member of the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, Marconi Club where he served two terms as club president, Knights of Columbus, CPDES, Italian Catholic Federation and the Sons of Italy where he was named "Man of the Year". He also served on the boards of Dominican Hospital Foundation, Santa Clara University, the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz and the California Funeral Directors Association. He was formerly a member of the Surf City Kiwanis Club where he served as club president, the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Druids.
He was a generous man with a big heart and had a deep caring for children. In his life he contributed generously to under privileged children and to Saint Jude's. He was also very active in youth sports including Santa Cruz Little League, where he and others started the T-Ball League for younger children. He also served as league president and coached for many years. He was an active supporter and fund raiser for Marello Prep High School. He was an avid sports fan and loved the Forty Niners and the Giants...
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Maureen Benito of Santa Cruz; his son, Gary Benito and his wife Valerie of Santa Cruz..."
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