Ben Bennett

Ben Bennett, loving husband, caring father and devoted friend, died

peacefully on December 7, 2008 at the age of 84 in his home in Newport

Beach. He was born in Empalme, Sinaloa, Mexico in 1924, son of Victor

Bennett and Maria Rita Angulo Bennett. He moved to California at the

age of ten, attended Lincoln High School in Los Angeles. He married

his high school sweetheart Betty Pedrini on April 15, 1944. Ben served

in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He worked at retail jobs in

Alhambra and Los Angeles before founding the Community Convalescent

Center in Riverside in 1965 which became his life’s work. He lived in

Riverside for eight years before moving to Newport Beach in 1972.

All his life, Ben served his community and helped his friends. He was

president and founding member of the board of the Riverside Health

Foundation. He was a member of the Montebello Kiwanis Club, president

of the Riverside Lions Club and a member of the Riverside Elks Club.

Ben enjoyed rounds of golf with friends at the Victoria Club in

Riverside. An avid sailor, Ben skippered many off shore races in

California and Mexico. He supported the Newport Nautical Musuem and

served there as a docent.

He is survived by his wife Betty, his children Bonnie Peterson and her

husband Ken, Bruce Bennett and his wife Merilee, Beckie Samuels and

her husband George; six grandchildren Cathy Peterson and her husband

Rudi Rudolph, Brian Bennett and his wife Anne, Ryan Samuels and his

wife Vicki, Christopher Bennett, Garrett Samuels and Erik Samuels; two

great-grandchildren Ben and Jenna Rudolph.

Memorial services are being planned. In lieu of flowers the family

suggests donations to his favorite charity Moving Forward Toward

Independence 1020 Clinton Street, Suite 210. Napa, Calif. 94559.