Benjamin Schenck Obituary

Benjamin Robinson Schenck SEABROOK ISLAND, SC - Benjamin Robinson Schenck, 71, died peacefully Thursday, January 28, 2010, at home on Seabrook Island, SC, after a long illness. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Sally Sullivan Schenck. He also leaves his son, Steven Tyler Schenck and his wife, Melanie Viets and children, Ada and Ezra Schenck, of Calais, VT, and Thayer Peterson of Montpelier, VT; his daughter, Elizabeth Forman Shaffer and her husband Web and their children, Caitlin and James of West Simsbury, CT. Ben was predeceased by his son, Timothy Sullivan Schenck, of Telluride, CO, in 2006. Son of John T. and Harriet Buffum Schenck, Ben was born in New York City in 1938. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Syracuse, NY. Ben was raised in Syracuse along with his brothers, Jack and Tim and sister, Elizabeth. Ben is survived by Tim and his wife Ann, his sister Elizabeth, and his sister-in-law Reid. He was predeceased by his brother, Jack in 2009. He also leaves sister-in-law Dean Davison and brother-in-law John E. Davison. Following graduation from Williams College and Harvard Law School, Schenck joined the staff of New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller. He then practiced law at Bond, Schenock and King in Syracuse. After that he joined the New York Department of Insurance where he became the Superintendent from 1971 to 1975. He guided the implementation and passage of New York State's pioneering No Fault Insurance Law. Later Mr. Schenck served as Senior Vice President of Shearson Hayden Stone, Executive Vice President of State Mutual Life Insurance Co., and President of Central Mass Health Care. While in Worcester MA, Mr. Schenck served in numerous charitable organizations, including as President of The United Way of Central Mass, and Chairman of the Executive Committee of The Chamber of Commerce. After retirement in 1994, Mr. Schenck and his wife moved to Lee, MA where they owned and operated Devonfield, a bed and breakfast inn. In 2000 the Schencks moved to Seabrook Island, SC, where he was an active golfer, a counselor with SCORE and served as a member of the Merger Study Committee. During his illness, Ben was blessed with visits from life long friends, neighbors from Seabrook, and dear extended family. Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial service at 11:30 a.m., Friday, February 5, at the Seabrook Island Club followed by a reception. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, INC., WEST ASHLEY CHAPEL, 3360 Glenn McConnell Parkway, Charleston, SC. A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/deaths