Remembering Ben
$100,000 Memorial Gift Supports UO Innovation Fund
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Ben’s love of learning was insatiable. At the time of his death, his nightstand held a biochemistry text and A History of Knowledge . His backpack, salvaged from the boat’s hull, contained a copy of Barron’s Islam and a recent issue of The Economist.
His international studies professor, Dennis Galvan, remembers Ben as “an especially compelling young man with exceptional potential to make a difference in the world.”
Ben’s charisma, vitality, and all-embracing intellect are irreplaceable, but his parents want his robust spirit and love for learning to inspire others. Their gift in Ben’s memory to the UO’s venture development fund will help advance new products and services to grow Oregon’s economy and improve the wellbeing of people worldwide. “In a way, I think Ben will outlive all of us,” Michele says.
Learn more about Ben’s remarkable life at the memorial website maintained by his family, beneder.org.
