Bob Bennett Hailed: Man of Family, Church, Country



Bob Bennett has passed away at the age of 81. Photo Courtesy Helene Bennett

Bob Bennett has passed away at the age of 81. Photo Courtesy Helene Bennett

In stature, Bob Bennett stood only 5 feet, 9 inches tall but in life, the Kent Cliffs resident and former Putnam Elections Commissioner was a giant of a man.

Bennett, who retired in 2012 after serving his constituency for 36 years as commissioner, passed away last Monday at his home surrounded by family at the age of 81.

Following his graduation from Carmel High School in 1955, Bennett received degrees in Electrical Engineering and Physics from the University of Dayton and Marist College.

Bennett served in the military with the Army Security Agency before marrying the love of his life, Helene, in 1958. The couple was blessed with four children–Jean, Kathy, Greg and Kristine.

Bob was employed as an engineer for many years at the IBM Watson Research Center in Yorktown before retiring in 2000.

But his life centered on his family and the community he admired.

In addition to serving as Commissioner of Elections, Bennett was Chairman of the Putnam County and Kent Democratic Committees as well as chairman of the Kent Recreation Commission and was head usher at St. James Church in Carmel.

When word of his passing became known, words of sympathy came from political leaders on both sides of the aisle.

County Executive Mary Ellen Odell called Bennett a “good man and cherished member of the Putnam County family–a public servant who never let party politics get in the way of doing what was right for the community. I knew Bob for my entire life. He loved his family, his church and the county he called home. I will miss his friendship and support.”

Elections Commissioner Kathy Croft, who succeeded Bennett, recalled that she and her former boss worked together for 23 years, “most of the time in the same office. Bob was a friend and a gentleman. When Bob retired, I cried. I cry again today. May God bless him and grant him eternal rest.”

Putnam’s GOP Elections Commissioner Anthony Scannapieco, who worked side by side with Bennett for more than two decades, called Bennett a “professional’s professional. He was a great man to work with. ”

During an interview in 2012, Bennett described his tenure in Putnam County as an “absolute joy.” He praised his wife for acting as the “muzzle of the gun that has kept me going. I don’t know what I’d do without Helene.”

In addition to his wife of nearly 60 years and his four children, Bennett is survived by his sons-in-law Al and Chris, daughter-in-law, Beth, five grandchildren, Brandon, Jonathan, Kaitlyn, Kaylee and Colin, a brother, William and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his siblings, Dorothy and Edson.

A funeral mass was held Tuesday at 11 am at St. James Church in Carmel. The family has requested in lieu of flowers, donations in Bennett’s memory be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 or the Michael Fox Foundation, Box 5014, Hagerstown, Maryland 21741. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Cargain Funeral Home of Carmel.

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