Gavin R. Benson, 53, of Londonderry, NH, died on August 20, 2011 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving wife and two daughters. He was born on October 25, 1957 in Berkeley, CA, the son of Larry D. Benson of Lexington, MA and the late Margaret (Owens) Benson. He has resided in Londonderry, NH since 1995. Gavin received a BFA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a M.Ed., in Instructional Technology from Boston University. He also attended Marlboro College in Vermont. He was currently employed at School Specialty in Nashua, NH as a Senior Project Manager for online "virtual labs" used in high school biology and science curriculum.
He loved to swim and was a member of a U.S. Masters Swimming Team, the Granite State Penguins, before his illness prevented him from participating. He was also an avid sailor who loved to sail his boat on Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Massabesic where he was a member of the Massabesic Yacht Club. Throughout his life, even during his illness, he had a voracious appetite for reading, learning and keeping up with current events. Gavin was a deeply devoted and loving husband and father who had a true appreciation for life. His strength of character and his kindness were admired by all who knew him.
Gavin leaves behind his wife of 24 years, Cindy (Romano) Benson of Londonderry; his two daughters, Jessalyn and Rachel Benson of Londonderry; his father, Larry D. Benson, of Lexington, MA; his sister, Cassandra Benson, and wife Mary Alice Wells, of Provincetown, MA; his sister Amanda Benson and husband Anthony Forster of Lexington, MA; and his brother Geoffrey Benson and his wife Nancy, of Hampstead, NH; as well as many loving family members.
Calling hours were held at the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch Street, Derry, NH on Tuesday August 23, 2011 from 6pm to 8pm. A funeral service was celebrated Wednesday at 10am at St. Peter Episcopal Church, 3 Peabody Row Londonderry, NH. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115 or to the Lymphoma Resreach Foundation, 115 Broadway, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10006 earmark for Mantle Cell Lymphoma research.