On February 10, 2024, at the youthful age of 104, the ever-iconic Grandpa Ben peacefully moved on, joining his beloved wife Jean after 10 years apart.
Grandpa Ben was sharp, charismatic, crafty, and unrepentantly positive. He had an incomparable passion for life—and food, which he made sure to pass along to his family. He was a devoted father and husband, and a doting grandparent to a fault, never afraid of taking a moment to be silly or sharing his deep fervor for life and feelings of happiness and luck in the life he created.
Above all, Grandpa Ben was the definition of unconditional love. His love for us trumped all, and he never hesitated to remind us as much. He was a champion for our success and happiness.
I never directly came out to my grandfather, a somewhat conservative former military officer. We weren’t sure how he’d react at my college graduation, when my mom informed him my boyfriend would be joining us.
To the extent he cared, Grandpa Ben never let on - he cared only that I was happy, regardless of how it looked.
We will miss Grandpa Ben deeply - the teriyaki chicken he grilled in the backyard, the sukiyaki he lovingly prepared in the kitchen, the miraculous “windfalls” he’d use as an excuse to slip his grandchildren $20, “no enryo,” his voracious love of life, his family, and delicious food.
He lived and led an incredible life, and I can only hope to find as much joy in my life as he did in his. He was a family figurehead, an icon, and the best grandfather someone could have.
You’ll always be our reminder: “Most important. Enjoy life.”
