Father, city engineer, pancake curator

April 1, 2020 1:32 PM

Edward C. Bennett’s lovely legacy: The Bennett family wrote a descriptive account of their patriarch, a man they clearly adored. “Ed was unnaturally calm, patient, and kind. His sons witnessed when he would smash his thumb with a hammer and he would just say, Nuts!”

“When his children were in trouble, he and Arlene would set them down on the couch and after an excruciating pause, he would calmly express disappointment in themselves, as parents.”

(I don’t know the Bennetts, but this obit ran in my local newspaper and now I feel as if I had known him, and certainly wish I did).

posted by areaperson (9 comments total)

.
posted by Silvery Fish at 1:37 PM on April 1, 2020

"Ed was not simple, but his way of life and his way of being was so uncomplicated because he was not confused by how to handle daily events and life."

This is so lovely.

.
posted by hepta at 1:40 PM on April 1, 2020 [4 favorites]

“He was an Ambassador of Equanimity ... when he did have to confront someone, he was unwaveringly respectful.”

I loved that part. He reminds me of my grandfather, who would have been about the same age and from a nearby town. My grandfather was also sometimes compared to Mr. Rogers. When I sent this to my mom, she said the punishment on the couch was very much something her dad would have done! I also love the imagery of Arlene helping him with surveying.

.
posted by areaperson at 1:59 PM on April 1, 2020 [1 favorite]

451: Unavailable due to legal reasons

We recognize you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore access cannot be granted at this time.

shakes fist at cloud!
posted by chavenet at 2:33 PM on April 1, 2020 [2 favorites]

.
posted by jim in austin at 4:04 PM on April 1, 2020

chavenet, check your memail

This was awfully sweet, OP, thanks.

"Ed learned a secret bread recipe from a baker friend that he practiced for years, and baked bread for communion at the First Congregational Church, which Ed and Arlene attended religiously." I should hope so.
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:07 PM on April 1, 2020 [3 favorites]

As I roll through my 50s it just occurred to me that the people who needs to read good obituries are my children. I can only lead so good a life, so it's going to be pretty much up to them to make me look good.
posted by Cris E at 5:22 PM on April 1, 2020 [5 favorites]

I'm reminded of this fellow:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/no-complaints-about-this-traffic-cop/

By the very nature of the business, all L.A.County traffic cops can expect to get at least a few complaints every year. A lot of them are petty -- people just mad because they got a ticket. But regardless, they all get documented and placed in the officer's personnel file.

Which is why Capt. Pat Maxwell was stunned when he started looking through Simmons' file. "I just said that's not possible," he said.

Although he did see lots of commendations looking back over the last 20 years -- over the last 25,000 traffic stops, Capt. Maxwell couldn't find one complaint. A record zero.

posted by sebastienbailard at 7:32 PM on April 1, 2020 [3 favorites]

Iris Gambol: "chavenet, check your memail"

Thank you so much!
posted by chavenet at 2:10 AM on April 2, 2020 [1 favorite]