Born 2 1/2 months premature, 1 month after the death of his father in an airplane crash, Benjy spent the first 8 weeks of his life at Toledo Memorial Hospital in an incubator dubbed Duffy's Tavern! He came home to a loving family of his mom, his grandparents and his teen-aged aunt in December 1945.
He moved in 1948 with his mother to be close to the excellent care for cerebral palsied children available at The Children's Hospital in Denver. In 1949 his mother remarried to Russell Henry Toepfer and Ben gained the only father he ever knew. The family settled in South Denver and Ben was joined by two half-sisters, Laura and Abby.
He attended the Boettcher School for the Handicapped (across the street from Children's Hospital) until 1958, when it became impossible for his parents to care for him at home. He went to Grand Junction, CO, until 1963 when he returned to Denver in search of a suitable living situation. This was found at the newly opened Cherrelyn Manor Healthcare Center in Littleton, CO. Ben moved in Sept. 1964 and remained there until his death. Many of his family lived nearby and he became a beloved member of the Cherrelyn community.
In 1991, a milestone was achieved when Ben earned his GED, after more than 5 years of study (his brain was like a sponge and he had a photographic memory). At least 25 hours of exams had to be administered orally because Ben could not write.
Always loving and a champion of the underdog, Ben was an observant, thoughtful, kind person with a great sense of humor who lived his life in a severely disabled body with grace and dignity. He was admired by many who knew him.
He moved in 1948 with his mother to be close to the excellent care for cerebral palsied children available at The Children's Hospital in Denver. In 1949 his mother remarried to Russell Henry Toepfer and Ben gained the only father he ever knew. The family settled in South Denver and Ben was joined by two half-sisters, Laura and Abby.
He attended the Boettcher School for the Handicapped (across the street from Children's Hospital) until 1958, when it became impossible for his parents to care for him at home. He went to Grand Junction, CO, until 1963 when he returned to Denver in search of a suitable living situation. This was found at the newly opened Cherrelyn Manor Healthcare Center in Littleton, CO. Ben moved in Sept. 1964 and remained there until his death. Many of his family lived nearby and he became a beloved member of the Cherrelyn community.
In 1991, a milestone was achieved when Ben earned his GED, after more than 5 years of study (his brain was like a sponge and he had a photographic memory). At least 25 hours of exams had to be administered orally because Ben could not write.
Always loving and a champion of the underdog, Ben was an observant, thoughtful, kind person with a great sense of humor who lived his life in a severely disabled body with grace and dignity. He was admired by many who knew him.
Born 2 1/2 months premature, 1 month after the death of his father in an airplane crash, Benjy spent the first 8 weeks of his life at Toledo Memorial Hospital in an incubator dubbed Duffy's Tavern! He came home to a loving family of his mom, his grandparents and his teen-aged aunt in December 1945.
He moved in 1948 with his mother to be close to the excellent care for cerebral palsied children available at The Children's Hospital in Denver. In 1949 his mother remarried to Russell Henry Toepfer and Ben gained the only father he ever knew. The family settled in South Denver and Ben was joined by two half-sisters, Laura and Abby.
He attended the Boettcher School for the Handicapped (across the street from Children's Hospital) until 1958, when it became impossible for his parents to care for him at home. He went to Grand Junction, CO, until 1963 when he returned to Denver in search of a suitable living situation. This was found at the newly opened Cherrelyn Manor Healthcare Center in Littleton, CO. Ben moved in Sept. 1964 and remained there until his death. Many of his family lived nearby and he became a beloved member of the Cherrelyn community.
In 1991, a milestone was achieved when Ben earned his GED, after more than 5 years of study (his brain was like a sponge and he had a photographic memory). At least 25 hours of exams had to be administered orally because Ben could not write.
Always loving and a champion of the underdog, Ben was an observant, thoughtful, kind person with a great sense of humor who lived his life in a severely disabled body with grace and dignity. He was admired by many who knew him.
He moved in 1948 with his mother to be close to the excellent care for cerebral palsied children available at The Children's Hospital in Denver. In 1949 his mother remarried to Russell Henry Toepfer and Ben gained the only father he ever knew. The family settled in South Denver and Ben was joined by two half-sisters, Laura and Abby.
He attended the Boettcher School for the Handicapped (across the street from Children's Hospital) until 1958, when it became impossible for his parents to care for him at home. He went to Grand Junction, CO, until 1963 when he returned to Denver in search of a suitable living situation. This was found at the newly opened Cherrelyn Manor Healthcare Center in Littleton, CO. Ben moved in Sept. 1964 and remained there until his death. Many of his family lived nearby and he became a beloved member of the Cherrelyn community.
In 1991, a milestone was achieved when Ben earned his GED, after more than 5 years of study (his brain was like a sponge and he had a photographic memory). At least 25 hours of exams had to be administered orally because Ben could not write.
Always loving and a champion of the underdog, Ben was an observant, thoughtful, kind person with a great sense of humor who lived his life in a severely disabled body with grace and dignity. He was admired by many who knew him.
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