John R. "Jack" Benson, M.D., age 88, Professor Emeritus of Temple University Medical School, died on May 12, 2018 at The Beaumont at Bryn Mawr Retirement Community. He was the husband of his beloved Barbara for 67 years.

Dr. Benson was born in St. Mary's, PA. He graduated from Evanston High School, Evanston, IL in 1947. He earned a bachelor's degree from Yale in 1951. With his sights on medical school, Dr. Benson initially registered to take many science courses. But his college advisor told him, "You'd be crazy to take all those courses!" He advised him to take advantage of the liberal arts courses Yale had to offer. Years later, Dr. Benson said it was the "best advice I ever got." Ultimately, he triple-majored in the arts, history and philosophy. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year and graduated with honors in 1951.

Dr. Benson married his high school sweetheart, Babara McGill, in December 1951 as he began his studies at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. He graduated Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society in 1955. By then his family included two children, Paul and Linda. Following graduation, Dr. Benson moved the family to Philadelphia where he interned at old Philadelphia General Hospital. He next had to decide whether to specialize in internal medicine or psychiatry. The Air Force helped him with his decision by assigning him to a dispensary in Baltimore. Fearing he'd be bored, he wrote the Air Force advising that "all internists should have some psychiatric training" and helpfully offered himself to serve in that capacity. They immediately assigned him to the 800 bed hospital at the Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS. From 1956 to 1958 Captain Benson worked as a psychiatrist under the tutelage of a board psychiatrist and neurologist. He had found his calling.

After completing his military service, the family returned to Philadelphia so Dr. Benson could begin his psychiatric residency at Temple. There began as association with his esteemed mentor, O. Spurgeon English, then the department chairman. He excelled there, becoming chief resident. Even before graduation, he joined Dr. English in private practice, where he continued his work for several years. Dr. Benson completed psychoanalytic training in 1966. He was a member of the Philadelphia Psychoanalytic Society.

As Professor of Psychiatry at Temple, Dr. Benson loved teaching medical students and residents. He used humor as an effective tool to put students at ease as he got his point across. For 25 years he delivered the orientation speech to incoming medical students, conveying empathy and warmth as they faced the challenges ahead. They responded by dedicating their medical school year book to him in 1980 and again in 1989, honoring him with the opportunity to address the graduating class as they embarked upon their careers. The class of 1980 included his son, Paul.

Dr. Benson's work received much recognition: the Golden Apple award in 1976; the Lindback Foundation award for excellence in teaching in 1979; and the Russell P. Moses Memorial Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching in 1982. In 2013, the Department of Psychiatry gave him an outstanding academia award for all his years of service. After retiring from academia in 1991 he continued in private practice for 25 years.

Dr. Benson loved sports. He played high school football and baseball, turned to golf, then to tennis in his 40's playing well into his 80's. The Benson's traveled the world. Hawaii was their favorite vacation spot. He loved reading, the arts, but especially his family. He is survived by his wife, his son Dr. Paul (Sandy) , daughter Dr. Linda (Dr. Steve), grandchildren Katy, Michael, Dr. Alex, Elissa and Rebecca and two great-granddaughters.

Relatives and friends are invited to a Celebration of His Life to be held on Sunday May 20, 2:00 PM at The Beaumont Room of Beaumont at Bryn Mawr Retirement Community, 601 N. Ithan Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. Interment will be private for the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name may be made to Beaumont Scholarship Award, 601 N. Ithan Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19001 or to Smile Train , P.O. Box 96231, Washington D.C., 20090-6231 or to Wounded Warrior Project , P.O. Box 758517, Topeka KS 66675-8517 or to Doctors Without Borders , P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown MD 21741-5030.