LAKE PLACID — Barry Benson, 76, of Keeseville and formerly of Lake Placid, died on Friday, March 8.
He was born to the late Wilfred and Dorothy Benson Sept. 14, 1936, in Toronto, Ontario. Barry graduated from Etobicoke Collegiate in 1955 and received a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Science and Engineering from the University of Toronto in 1959. He married Mary Ecclestone in 1961 and they lived in Mississauga, Ontario before relocating in the Adirondacks in 1967.
Barry worked as a quality control engineer for the Ford Motor Company in Oakville, Ontario for seven years. However, his love for skiing and the outdoors enticed him and his wife to come to the Adirondacks where they purchased and renovated the old Wilmington Inn. While running the Inn, Barry also worked for the JJ Rogers Co. in Ausable Forks as plant engineer. After the closing of the mill, Barry helped form the Northland Contracting Company/Airport Motors in Lake Placid. Meanwhile his love for Whiteface Montain kept him busy in the winter as active full time professional ski patroller. He was also a volunteer for the Wilmington Fire Dept. and the Lake Placid Volunteer Ambulance Service, as well as being a member of the Lake Placid Lions Club. Barry also loved canoeing and hiking the Adirondacks, playing his guitar and collecting old sports cars.
Barry is survived by his wife, Mary; and two children, Brent Benson, of Salt Lake City and Karen Benson of Charlotte, N.C. He is also survived by his sister, Bonnie Pronk of Campbell River, British Columbia.
Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, March 11, at the Clark Funeral Home in Lake Placid, with a time to celebrate Barry's life from 6 to 7 p.m., by sharing stories and memories with the Benson family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the North Country SPCA.
Funeral arrangements are in care of the Clark Funeral Home in Lake Placid and the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville. Friends wishing to share a story or memory for the family are invited to light a candle at www.mbclarkfuneral home.com.
