Stanley
Myron “Chip” Bennett Jr.,
68, of Glen, N.H., died
December 29, 2008, with his
loving wife, Janet, by his
side, after a very long and
most courageous battle
against MDS (myelodysplastic
syndrome).
He was
born in Salem on August 14,
1940, the son of Stanley and
Elizabeth Brown Bennett of
Ipswich.
Mr.
Bennett grew up in Ipswich,
graduating from Ipswich High
School, Class of 1958.
Following high school, he
enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
He was proud of his military
service and particularly
proud of the fact that he
served aboard the aircraft
carrier USS Ranger (CVA-61).
He spent three and a half
years at sea, attaining the
rank of engineman third
class. He often spoke of the
opportunity given him by the
Navy to “see the world.”
Upon
completion of his military
service, Mr. Bennett set out
to learn the general
contracting business as a
member of his father’s firm,
S.M. Bennett & Sons.
Upon
his father’s retirement in
1975, he carried on the
family business until his
own retirement in 2001.
Mr.
Bennett was a true
craftsman, a perfectionist,
with his work always in
great demand. He often
stated, “If a job is worth
doing, it’s worth doing
well.”
Upon
retirement, Mr. Bennett
spent several years in
Naples, Fla., before
permanently resettling in
Glen, N.H., in 2001.
He was
a member of the Ipswich
Lions Club for 20 years,
serving as the director of
the “Leo Club” and
supervisor of the Lions Club
Scholarship Fund. He was
also elected president of
the club from 1983 to 1984.
He was also a proud and
active member of the
American Legion Post 95,
North Conway, N.H., for the
past five years.
Mr.
Bennett was a remarkable
human being who faced his
lethal illness with
exceptional grace and
courage. All who knew him
were profoundly impressed by
his dignity and desire to
pursue whatever reasonable
options were available that
would give him the
opportunity to spend a
little more time with his
family. His beautiful and
quiet smile, which expressed
infinite confidence, will be
remembered by everyone who
knew him.
His
greatest strength and his
true source of pride were
his caring and adoring wife
of 25 years, Janet, his
family, and in particular,
his three grandchildren,
Maggie, Morgan and Tanner.
He took great joy in being
fondly known to them as “Grampy.”
They were his pride and joy
and always made him smile
even during difficult days.
Besides
fishing in the Ipswich
River, boating, skiing and
traveling, he took great joy
in his dogs, Mopey, Annie,
Cassie and Andy.
Besides
his wife and grandchildren,
he is survived by his
sister, JoAnn Bennett Allie
and her husband, Bob, of
Naples, Fla.
He also
leaves two sons, Michael
Bennett and his wife,
Stacey, of Ipswich and Jason
Bennett and his wife, Cathy,
of Bartlett, N.H.
He also
leaves his niece, Carrie
Clasby of Ipswich; his
nephew, Craig Jenkins of
Naples, Fla.; as well as
several great-nieces and
great-nephews.
A
celebration of Mr. Bennett’s
life will be held Tuesday
May 19, 2009 from 4 to 7:30
pm in the Whittier-Porter
Funeral Home, 6 High Street,
Ipswich. Family and friends
respectfully welcomed.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the MDS Foundation, P.O. Box 353, Crosswicks, NJ 08515 or to the Ipswich Lions Club Scholarship Fund, Box 525, Ipswich, MA 01938.