Thank you all for being here today to celebrate Ben’s life. When we remember Ben, we will think of his selflessness, friendship, unique way of problem solving, creativity, strength, love, sense of humor and his generosity.
That generosity extends beyond his life. Most of you know that long before he passed, Ben made the unselfish decision to be an organ, tissue, and eye donor. We consider it a privilege to help fulfil Ben’s wishes. His generous decision has given new life and hope to individuals who were in need of a miracle of medicine, as well as their families, friends, and the countless other lives they will touch.
Ben’s left kidney went to a female in her sixties. She has two children and four grandchildren. She is a retired nurse and surgical technologist and enjoys tending to her plants and spending time with her grandchildren. She is looking forward to traveling and spending more time with family and friends. She is excited and hopeful.

Ben’s right kidney went to a male ... Read morein his sixties. He is married with five children, two grandchildren, and one grandchild on the way. He enjoys working on cars, bowling, basketball, and participating in his faith community. He is thankful for this gift that has made such a difference in his life.

Ben’s liver was recovered with the intention of transplant, but no suitable match recipient was found, so it was submitted for research and will impact thousands by helping the medical community learn more about life-saving treatments.

Ben’s tissue donations may be used in a variety of ways, helping many people survive as well as retain or regain function that would otherwise be lost. The magnitude and extent of Ben’s gifts cannot be measured.

I am so proud of my son, Ben. I’m proud of him for many reasons, but mostly because of the way he treated others. I could tell you countless stories of his kindness, generosity, and desire to make others happy, but I have chosen to share the following words from people who worked with him instead.

Mackenzie, a former Kona Ice employee wrote:
Ben had a way of encouraging everyone around him to take their passions seriously, to not just dream, but to act on those dreams... He truly believed in people and their potential…I always saw him helping others... He loved striking up conversations about what made people excited, their goals, their creative ideas, their future plans. He was genuinely interested and would give his full attention to whoever he was talking to. I remember telling him once that I wanted to build my own PC one day, and he immediately said, “Why not now?!” That was just Ben always giving you that little push to go for it, to bet on yourself.
The world needs more people like him; empathetic, intuitive, and kind. Ben will be remembered not only for his talents and intelligence, but for the warmth, encouragement, and sincerity he brought to everyone lucky enough to know him…
Madison, another Kona Ice co-worker wrote:
I feel so privileged to have known Ben... he brought optimism and laughter to anyone’s day no matter what he himself was experiencing.
His passion for music, cooking, and 3D printing always made for fun conversations during longer shifts. He could literally solve any problem especially if it meant he could 3D print a solution.
Even after we all moved away from Kona, Ben always checked in, genuinely interested in how life was going for everyone because he genuinely cared. He had this amazing ability to become more hyped for your future than you. He made you believe in yourself more than you thought possible (even if he was just encouraging you to learn classic rock songs on guitar).
Ben was a guy who gave everything he could to his family and his community, including all the laughter anyone could handle before their sides ached. I remember on my first training day at Kona I noticed that every customer who approached the trailer, whether they purchased a Kona or not (most of the time they did because Ben was amazing at upselling), always walked away laughing or with a smile.
Although he left this world too soon, I know those who met Ben and shared a laugh with him will never forget him and the joy he brought to their day. Whether you knew him as “the Kona guy” or as a friend, you were better off having met him. Ben was one of the kindest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing and I know we’re all proud to call him a friend and a part of our Kona family.
Maggie from BIW wrote:
It’s hard to nail down any one specific story or memory of Ben.
He was the coworker that started a rapport with the best food truck outside of one of the shipyards, allowing [us] to enjoy near-daily chicken sandwiches, an off-menu item (oh la la~). This was a testament to his easy nature and friendliness.
He consistently, and truly a COUNTLESS number of times, came up with unique and sometimes wacky solutions to problems that had us stumped. He was clever and tenacious in solving work-riddles and addressing problems.
He was a sounding board for a lot of my ideas for a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, talking through puzzles and encounters.
He also seemed to constantly be working on a 3D model to print, whether it was a moose on a flight deck or a lighting fixture, he had a solution and grit to figure it out. Even from across the country, he’d send pictures of a collapsible shelf for a food truck that he’d designed and was proud of.
All in all, he was a friend. We…felt some loss when he returned to the East Coast. We understood, but wished it untrue. This loss is a whole different kind. There aren’t words to describe the grief.
And from Moriah, also from BIW:
Where to start! When Ben started at BIW I was his work leader, in essence that means that I was responsible for assigning him work and making sure it was done correctly. I remember originally being very skeptical of how fast he executed work, but I quickly caught on that he was gifted with a computer in ways I would never understand! Throughout the years of working with Ben I can’t count the number of times he heard me huffing about my computer not doing what I wanted it to do, he would come over and 9 times out of 10 would fix whatever issue had me stumped!
Ben was easy going, easy to talk to, and just a joy to be around. Everyone in the office knew him and if they didn’t that just meant they were new. He could hold a conversation with anyone about anything.
He frequently had visitors at his desk, who just wanted to say “Hi” and see how he was doing or what his latest 3D project was. One project he is most known for in San Diego, is the 3D printed models of the ship. He could not make those fast enough. Those little 3D models have made it all over the US, team members who have left the program put them up in their new offices, a way to remember the program and in turn remember Ben!
I got the joy of sitting next to Ben for many years. He would sometimes talk to himself, it became a kind of running joke, he would start talking to himself, and I would say “Ben, are you talking to me” and he would respond “Well no, but well maybe, do you have a second” It always made me laugh. Ben loved to laugh and laugh with people! [We] laughed a lot in the years [we] worked together. Even after Ben moved back East, we still found ways to laugh together, usually in the form of a funny meme or a story shared via messenger. I will miss laughing with Ben. His loss will be felt for years to come.
Jim and I had the unique privilege of not only parenting Ben, but being his employers as well. He could drive and tow anything - useful skills when working with a business that consists entirely of mobile equipment. I’ve personally seen him jackknife a trailer into a tight spot between two other vendors with only inches to spare. His ability to diagnose and fix mechanical issues was a tremendous asset as well. He was the go-to guy for training because of his ability to encourage and improve confidence in others. He was a natural teacher - though he frequently denied this.
Customers frequently sent complimentary feedback about him and crew members loved him. He routinely gave of himself for the good of the company and the crew.
Each of us knew Ben in a different way and each of us carries our own special memories of him.
One of the most meaningful ways we can honor his life is by sharing those memories–the stories that made us laugh, the moments that moved us, the things about him we will never forget.
At this time, we would love to have some of you share a story, a memory, or even just a few words. What you say doesn’t have to be perfect–just something true to your experience with Ben. If you’d prefer to write something down, we have a place for that as well.
Your voices will help us all feel closer to him as we remember and celebrate the beautiful person he was. Read less

Thank you all for being here today to celebrate Ben’s life. When we remember Ben, we will think of his selflessness, friendship, unique way of problem solving, creativity, strength, love, sense of humor and his generosity.
That generosity extends beyond his life. Most of you know that long before he passed, Ben made the unselfish decision to be an organ, tissue, and eye donor. We consider it a privilege to help fulfil Ben’s wishes. His generous decision has given new life and hope to individuals... Read more who were in need of a miracle of medicine, as well as their families, friends, and the countless other lives they will touch.
Ben’s left kidney went to a female in her sixties. She has two children and four grandchildren. She is a retired nurse and surgical technologist and enjoys tending to her plants and spending time with her grandchildren. She is looking forward to traveling and spending more time with family and friends. She is excited and hopeful.

Ben’s right kidney went to a male in his sixties. He is married with five children, two grandchildren, and one grandchild on the way. He enjoys working on cars, bowling, basketball, and participating in his faith community. He is thankful for this gift that has made such a difference in his life.

Ben’s liver was recovered with the intention of transplant, but no suitable match recipient was found, so it was submitted for research and will impact thousands by helping the medical community learn more about life-saving treatments.

Ben’s tissue donations may be used in a variety of ways, helping many people survive as well as retain or regain function that would otherwise be lost. The magnitude and extent of Ben’s gifts cannot be measured.

I am so proud of my son, Ben. I’m proud of him for many reasons, but mostly because of the way he treated others. I could tell you countless stories of his kindness, generosity, and desire to make others happy, but I have chosen to share the following words from people who worked with him instead.

Mackenzie, a former Kona Ice employee wrote:
Ben had a way of encouraging everyone around him to take their passions seriously, to not just dream, but to act on those dreams... He truly believed in people and their potential…I always saw him helping others... He loved striking up conversations about what made people excited, their goals, their creative ideas, their future plans. He was genuinely interested and would give his full attention to whoever he was talking to. I remember telling him once that I wanted to build my own PC one day, and he immediately said, “Why not now?!” That was just Ben always giving you that little push to go for it, to bet on yourself.
The world needs more people like him; empathetic, intuitive, and kind. Ben will be remembered not only for his talents and intelligence, but for the warmth, encouragement, and sincerity he brought to everyone lucky enough to know him…
Madison, another Kona Ice co-worker wrote:
I feel so privileged to have known Ben... he brought optimism and laughter to anyone’s day no matter what he himself was experiencing.
His passion for music, cooking, and 3D printing always made for fun conversations during longer shifts. He could literally solve any problem especially if it meant he could 3D print a solution.
Even after we all moved away from Kona, Ben always checked in, genuinely interested in how life was going for everyone because he genuinely cared. He had this amazing ability to become more hyped for your future than you. He made you believe in yourself more than you thought possible (even if he was just encouraging you to learn classic rock songs on guitar).
Ben was a guy who gave everything he could to his family and his community, including all the laughter anyone could handle before their sides ached. I remember on my first training day at Kona I noticed that every customer who approached the trailer, whether they purchased a Kona or not (most of the time they did because Ben was amazing at upselling), always walked away laughing or with a smile.
Although he left this world too soon, I know those who met Ben and shared a laugh with him will never forget him and the joy he brought to their day. Whether you knew him as “the Kona guy” or as a friend, you were better off having met him. Ben was one of the kindest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing and I know we’re all proud to call him a friend and a part of our Kona family.
Maggie from BIW wrote:
It’s hard to nail down any one specific story or memory of Ben.
He was the coworker that started a rapport with the best food truck outside of one of the shipyards, allowing [us] to enjoy near-daily chicken sandwiches, an off-menu item (oh la la~). This was a testament to his easy nature and friendliness.
He consistently, and truly a COUNTLESS number of times, came up with unique and sometimes wacky solutions to problems that had us stumped. He was clever and tenacious in solving work-riddles and addressing problems.
He was a sounding board for a lot of my ideas for a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, talking through puzzles and encounters.
He also seemed to constantly be working on a 3D model to print, whether it was a moose on a flight deck or a lighting fixture, he had a solution and grit to figure it out. Even from across the country, he’d send pictures of a collapsible shelf for a food truck that he’d designed and was proud of.
All in all, he was a friend. We…felt some loss when he returned to the East Coast. We understood, but wished it untrue. This loss is a whole different kind. There aren’t words to describe the grief.
And from Moriah, also from BIW:
Where to start! When Ben started at BIW I was his work leader, in essence that means that I was responsible for assigning him work and making sure it was done correctly. I remember originally being very skeptical of how fast he executed work, but I quickly caught on that he was gifted with a computer in ways I would never understand! Throughout the years of working with Ben I can’t count the number of times he heard me huffing about my computer not doing what I wanted it to do, he would come over and 9 times out of 10 would fix whatever issue had me stumped!
Ben was easy going, easy to talk to, and just a joy to be around. Everyone in the office knew him and if they didn’t that just meant they were new. He could hold a conversation with anyone about anything.
He frequently had visitors at his desk, who just wanted to say “Hi” and see how he was doing or what his latest 3D project was. One project he is most known for in San Diego, is the 3D printed models of the ship. He could not make those fast enough. Those little 3D models have made it all over the US, team members who have left the program put them up in their new offices, a way to remember the program and in turn remember Ben!
I got the joy of sitting next to Ben for many years. He would sometimes talk to himself, it became a kind of running joke, he would start talking to himself, and I would say “Ben, are you talking to me” and he would respond “Well no, but well maybe, do you have a second” It always made me laugh. Ben loved to laugh and laugh with people! [We] laughed a lot in the years [we] worked together. Even after Ben moved back East, we still found ways to laugh together, usually in the form of a funny meme or a story shared via messenger. I will miss laughing with Ben. His loss will be felt for years to come.
Jim and I had the unique privilege of not only parenting Ben, but being his employers as well. He could drive and tow anything - useful skills when working with a business that consists entirely of mobile equipment. I’ve personally seen him jackknife a trailer into a tight spot between two other vendors with only inches to spare. His ability to diagnose and fix mechanical issues was a tremendous asset as well. He was the go-to guy for training because of his ability to encourage and improve confidence in others. He was a natural teacher - though he frequently denied this.
Customers frequently sent complimentary feedback about him and crew members loved him. He routinely gave of himself for the good of the company and the crew.
Each of us knew Ben in a different way and each of us carries our own special memories of him.
One of the most meaningful ways we can honor his life is by sharing those memories–the stories that made us laugh, the moments that moved us, the things about him we will never forget.
At this time, we would love to have some of you share a story, a memory, or even just a few words. What you say doesn’t have to be perfect–just something true to your experience with Ben. If you’d prefer to write something down, we have a place for that as well.
Your voices will help us all feel closer to him as we remember and celebrate the beautiful person he was. Read less

In the begging there was .. oh wait…

Four score and …no no that’s not right …

If you have a ravioli and you cut it open … oh that was some of Ben’s notes …

Oh, here we are. Benjamin started really early in life making things.

It began with his early love of food and how he could so easily make a living picasso of himself out of some strained peas and apple sauce while bouncing around in an infant bouncy seats.

We have video of him on one of those plastic toddler pedal bikes as he approaches a big puddle. You can see him lean over the handlebars in wonder looking at the water, studying it. He would go forward a bit, then back as if worried he might get wet. Then he decided this needed hands on investigations. Dismounting the bike he started stomping through the puddle up to his knees and once the water seeped into his clothes and shoes he proudly mounted the bike to drive on through the puddle.

Leggos were of course a favorite building material early on and he would... Read more spend hours pouring over those little picture instructions for hours. Then when the model was built, he would disassemble it and add it to a mountain of others to build whatever he could imagine.

Add in k’nex to the building experiences and he crafted all sorts of vehicles, buildings and of course weapons. He built a gun with k’nex and rubber bands that would fling rods of plastic across the room and make a hole in sheetrock. Sadly he never learned how to mud and tape over those holes.

Then we move over to tools. I am sure Jim and I have never seen a 10 mm socket after Ben asked to borrow it for just awhile. Ben was just a little tike when he would grab a power drill that was half his size and try to bang it into some 2x4 trying to help build something. He later would grab a random hunk of metal deciding it would make a knife. Almost any tool he could imagine would get brought to bear on that hunk of metal with the hopes of creating some sort of edge. He learned how very expensive wood chisels are not only ineffective on metal but the chisel tips easily get grooves and chunks of it chipped off with enough force.

Ben loved to try to build things he observed on YouTube. From building a culinary “masterpiece” to learning a new guitar song one stanza at a time he would plug away until he found some success. He once saw a street artist fling tons of spray paint and pans and buckets around and poof incredible space paintings. Sure enough after spray painting himself and everything in a 5 foot radius he made some wonderful paintings. He saw some one glue a bunch of colored pencils together and then cut them up and widdle them down …. Poof he made some colorful rings to give to others as well as a huge pile of woodchips and shavings that may still be in the shop.

In video games, Ben would always play characters that would make build the entertainment experience for everyone and make it better. The support type character was always Ben’s goto and he loved helping others have fun in games.

He was wonderful building safe learning experiences with kids. Away from kids he would joke about how kids were yucky and too much work, but then you watch him with anyone under 3 feet tall and he enchanted youth and helped build entertaining experiences with learning.

Ben took his love for making things into 3d design and made that into a career where he could make changes in military ships. Unlike his earlier adventures in learning how to make things, he was able to find successes in his ship modification designs with so much less mess to clean up after he was done.

Most of all, Ben made friends and smiles. Just look around this room. Today we gather to share Ben’s connections with us all and to celebrate all the joy he managed to create in our lives. Read less

In the begging there was .. oh wait…

Four score and …no no that’s not right …

If you have a ravioli and you cut it open … oh that was some of Ben’s notes …

Oh, here we are. Benjamin started really early in life making things.

It began with his early love of food and how he could so easily make a living picasso of himself out of some strained peas and apple sauce while bouncing around in an infant bouncy seats.

We have video of him on one of those plastic toddler pedal bikes as he... Read more approaches a big puddle. You can see him lean over the handlebars in wonder looking at the water, studying it. He would go forward a bit, then back as if worried he might get wet. Then he decided this needed hands on investigations. Dismounting the bike he started stomping through the puddle up to his knees and once the water seeped into his clothes and shoes he proudly mounted the bike to drive on through the puddle.

Leggos were of course a favorite building material early on and he would spend hours pouring over those little picture instructions for hours. Then when the model was built, he would disassemble it and add it to a mountain of others to build whatever he could imagine.

Add in k’nex to the building experiences and he crafted all sorts of vehicles, buildings and of course weapons. He built a gun with k’nex and rubber bands that would fling rods of plastic across the room and make a hole in sheetrock. Sadly he never learned how to mud and tape over those holes.

Then we move over to tools. I am sure Jim and I have never seen a 10 mm socket after Ben asked to borrow it for just awhile. Ben was just a little tike when he would grab a power drill that was half his size and try to bang it into some 2x4 trying to help build something. He later would grab a random hunk of metal deciding it would make a knife. Almost any tool he could imagine would get brought to bear on that hunk of metal with the hopes of creating some sort of edge. He learned how very expensive wood chisels are not only ineffective on metal but the chisel tips easily get grooves and chunks of it chipped off with enough force.

Ben loved to try to build things he observed on YouTube. From building a culinary “masterpiece” to learning a new guitar song one stanza at a time he would plug away until he found some success. He once saw a street artist fling tons of spray paint and pans and buckets around and poof incredible space paintings. Sure enough after spray painting himself and everything in a 5 foot radius he made some wonderful paintings. He saw some one glue a bunch of colored pencils together and then cut them up and widdle them down …. Poof he made some colorful rings to give to others as well as a huge pile of woodchips and shavings that may still be in the shop.

In video games, Ben would always play characters that would make build the entertainment experience for everyone and make it better. The support type character was always Ben’s goto and he loved helping others have fun in games.

He was wonderful building safe learning experiences with kids. Away from kids he would joke about how kids were yucky and too much work, but then you watch him with anyone under 3 feet tall and he enchanted youth and helped build entertaining experiences with learning.

Ben took his love for making things into 3d design and made that into a career where he could make changes in military ships. Unlike his earlier adventures in learning how to make things, he was able to find successes in his ship modification designs with so much less mess to clean up after he was done.

Most of all, Ben made friends and smiles. Just look around this room. Today we gather to share Ben’s connections with us all and to celebrate all the joy he managed to create in our lives. Read less