Obituary of Thomas J. Benson

Thomas J. (86) of Mahwah NJ, formerly of Upper Saddle River NJ and Darien CT died September 29th. Born in Newburgh NY on October 5, 1926, Tom and his eight siblings were raised by their mother, Mary Murphy Benson Lepore. He received his Bachelor's degree from Central Connecticut University and a Masters in secondary education from University of Bridgeport. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 through 1946. Upon receiving his honorable discharge, he began a professional career dedicated entirely to education. He taught in the Darien CT school system before becoming an assistant principal in the Greenwich CT school district. He returned to Darien as principal of Middlesex Middle School. He became Superintendent of the Upper Saddle River NJ district in 1973, serving in this position until 1992. He has enjoyed a retirement filled with traveling, golf, bridge games and summer vacations with his children and grand-children in Lake Placid NY. Tom was a faithful parishioner at Presentation RC Church in Upper Saddle River. Tom is survived by his son, Thomas W. and his wife Alice of Weston MA, daughters Linda Meiman and her husband Jim of Ramsey NJ, Beth O'Connor and her husband Russ of Lisbon CT, Carol Dannenfelser and her husband Dave of Rockaway NJ; brothers Jim Benson of Georgia, Bob Benson of Paramus NJ, Larry Lepore of Pompton Lakes NJ, Vinnie Lepore of Ocala FL and his sister Eileen Benson of New York City. He is the loving Grandpa to Kristin, Nicky, Ben, Meghan, Shannon, Laura, David, James and Aidan. He was pre-deceased by his brothers David and George, his sister Pat Ciceri and his loving wife Carol Hurley Benson (2011). Funeral services in NJ were handled by Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home, Ramsey NJ. Mass was celebrated at Church of the Presentation (Upper Saddle River) Monday October 7. Local arrangements overseen by M.B. Clark, Inc. Funeral Home. Internment will be Saturday October 26th, 10:00 AM at St. Agnes Cemetery in Lake Placid, NY. Rev. John Yonkovig will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom's memory can be made to Boys Town ( www.boystown.org).