Robert William Bennett's Obituary
Robert William Bennett, CMDR, RET, USN, of Fort Myers and formerly of Massachusetts passed away Saturday, November 8, 2014 at Hope Hospice HealthPark of Fort Myers. He was 87. Mr. Bennett was a highly decorated Commander in the US Navy. He enlisted during WWII at the age of 17 and retired after 25+ years of dedicated service. Bob was a graduate of Boston University (COM 1949), the US. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA & the US. Naval War College in Newport, RI. He received his MS degree in Political Science from George Washington University in 1964. After retiring from the US Navy, Bob was active in his community, serving as a government relations consultant for many years. He served as special assistant to former US Senator Leverett Saltonstall, the Director of the Bureau of International Trade & Assistant Secretary of Administration and Finance for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In later years he worked on various Senate & Presidential election campaigns from Massachusetts to California. From the late 1980’s until the mid 1990’s, he was Chief-of-Staff and White House-Congressional Liaison at the American Legislative Exchange Council in Washington, DC. He most recently served as a member of the Boston University Henry M Goldman School of Dental Medicine Board of Visitors, under Dean Frankl, and on Dean Hutter’s Advisory Board. Bob was born March 17, 1927 in Cambridge, MA to the late Nicholas DiBenedetti and Catherine C. (Cronin) DiBenedetti. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Marian S. Barber Bennett; daughter, Janice L. Preston of Beverly, MA; sons, Robert W. Bennett II of Harrisonburg, VA, Jeffrey S. Bennett of Beverly, MA, Keith J. Bennett of Beverly, MA and Mark V. Bennett of Hawaii. He is also survived by 2 brothers, Alfred E. DiBenedetti & Paul E. DiBenedetti, 14 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, 3 step children, his former wife, Constance L. (Izzo) Bennett, & many nieces and nephews. Bob was also predeceased by his sister, Josephine (DiBenedetti) Pupi and his brother Nicholas DiBenedetti. Graveside services with full military honors will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 27, 2015 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA 22211. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/ All are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Mr. Bennett are suggested to Agassiz Village 238 Bedford St. Suite 8, Lexington. MA 02420 http://www.agassizvillage.org/,Boston University School of Dental Medicine 100 E Newton St, Boston, MA 02118 or Hope Hospice 9470 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.fortmyersmemorial.com Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home is serving the family.
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