The World Was Brighter With Ben
If you have found yourself here and taken the time to scan this code, we invite you to take a quiet moment. Sit for a while. Breathe. Take some time to read about Ben, about what it was like to know them, and about the presence they brought into the world. In doing so, you help keep their beautiful soul alive in this lifetime.
The coolest people are those who fully embrace who they are, and that was Ben. Also known as Beau, they were an artist, a writer, an aspiring musician in many forms, a gamer, a poet, a comic, an animal lover, and in every way, uniquely themselves. They were known to put on stellar shower musical performances that you could hear from nearly any room in the house. They loved thrifting eccentric, incredible outfits and were introverted yet at the same time, always the life of the party. Ben could be described in countless beautiful ways. Everyone who knew them described them differently, because Ben was uniquely meaningful to every person they interacted with. At the core of it all, Ben was deeply and genuinely kind.
Ben brought passion into everything they did. Like most people, they had many interests, but instead of simply dabbling, they fully threw themselves into whatever caught their attention. They had an incredible ability to learn and create. Being around Ben made you want to try something new. If they saw a card trick online, they would have it mastered by the end of the day, and somehow have three more to show you by the next.
Their aspirations had no limits. Throughout their life, Ben explored countless hobbies and phases. They did it all- skateboarding, wrestling, karate, running, weightlifting, football, playing the piano, ukulele, guitar, sketching, drawing, writing stories and poetry, the list goes on. They appeared as the main star in our homemade family films and could learn full dance performances from movies in a remarkably short amount of time, surprising everyone with how quickly and precisely they picked things up. They were an unbelievably talented self-taught artist whose creativity showed up again and again through writing, music, humor, and visual art.
Naturally, Ben had wanted to go on to be a screen writer in their future. By the age of sixteen, Ben had already explored and accomplished so much. It is impossible not to imagine all the creativity, connection, and beauty they would have continued to bring into the world.
There are truly only good things to say about Ben. They never judged anyone. They were endlessly creative across so many art forms and loved thoughtful conversation and debating on any topic. They embodied kindness in its truest form. The list of what made Ben special could go on forever. Ben, spent their life seeking happiness and always searched for the sunshine.
Ben would never want anyone to feel pain or sadness. We have heard countless stories from friends, classmates, and even strangers about the kindness they showed so freely. Ben listened deeply, cared genuinely, and made people feel seen. They were always there when anyone needed them.
A friend shared the impact Ben had on their life, writing about what Ben once said to them during a difficult time: “Breathing is just sucking up air and releasing it, but living is when you've stayed true to yourself and to those you've loved. And by the end of it all, it will make breathing feel less of an obligation and more as a freedom of internal peace with yourself”- Ben.
I have done my best to describe and depict Ben here, but no words will ever compare to the experience of meeting them, knowing them, or being loved by them. To know Ben was to feel warmth, curiosity, and laughter in a way that stays with you.
Ben often enjoyed coming to Delco park to ride their bike along the path that this bench now sits. It feels fitting that this is now a place to pause, reflect, and remember them.
If you are reading this and struggling, please know that your life is worth so much. Sometimes the truth inside your own mind can make it feel like there is no other option, but you matter more than you may realize. People love you. People need you. Your presence makes someone’s day better, even if you cannot see it right now. Your life is cherished and needed. Please keep giving yourself more time. More time to experience moments that have not happened yet. More time for things to change in ways you cannot predict. You deserve that chance.
If you knew Ben, we invite you to leave a memory or message in the guestbook, feel free to write anonymous in the name box. A story, a moment, or even just a few words help keep them present and remembered. If you did not know Ben, you are still welcome here. We would love for you to share what brought you to this bench, how this place made you feel today, or simply leave a note acknowledging their life. Thank you for taking the time to remember them.
May anyone who sits here feel the warmth Ben shared with the world.
In loving memory of Ben, we will miss you forever.