Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Monday, June 24, 2013 at 06:14:24 :
Independent Journal
Monday, August 24, 1981
Page 4
Sports figure Jack Benjamin
Jack Benjamin of Kentfield, founder of Pop Warner football in Marin and long-time circulation agent for the Independent Journal, died Saturday at a local hospital after a brief illness. He was 64.
Benjamin was best known for his work with youth during his 31 years in Marin. He taught thousands of youngsters to sail, sky, play football, basketball and baseball through southern Marin community programs, many of which he started.
“When I came over here from San Francisco,” Benjamin told an IJ reporter five years ago, “we didn’t have any recreation programs except small ones in San Anselmo and San Rafael.”
Benjamin helped establish sailing and other recreational programs with a unique twist – the kids themselves helped build and operate the programs.
“My theory was that it’s best to have the kids do most of the work, not their parents. I think that teaches them how to talk to people – how to talk to adults and gain their respect.”
He was past president of the Marin Boys Club and recipient of a distinguished achievement award from the Pop Warner Junior Football Conference for his work in starting the Marin league. Benjamin was instrumental in the building of the Mill Valley Recreation center.
“I have great admiration for Jack,” IJ Publisher Norwin Yoffie said. “For at least 25 years, he dedicated a big chunk of his life to other people. He left a life-time trail of doing good.”
For almost 30 years, Benjamin was a circulation distributor for the IJ.
“He handled all of southern Marin and developed a lot of our carriers,” circulation manager Bob Smith said.
Benjamin, a native of Pennsylvania, lived for many years in Mill Valley before moving recently to Kentfield. He is survived by his wife Betty, son Jack of New York, daughter Jaquelyn Pidge of Pacifica, daughter Denelle Fessia of Santa Rosa, daughters Michelle Benjamin-Hedlind and Leslie Benjamin of Kentfield and five grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Community Congressional Church of Belvidere-Tiburon, 145 Rock Hill Rd. at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
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