It was August of "83 when my co-worker and ultimately our good friend, Lynette, urged Brian to call me from her office (next to mine) and ask me to go out on a date. He was working for NCR and installing our new bank computer system. Saying yes, as I did, would bring the kind, gentle soul of Brian Bensko into my life and change the course of my future in the best possible way.

We would fall in love, travel, get married, purchase a home and I would come to learn what a truly talented man Brian was. He crafted beautiful furniture for our home, remodeled, and repaired all our cars and major appliances. What he lacked in shear talent he would teach himself. The years that followed would fill our family home with our most precious gifts to each other as we welcomed our 4 children. They were years of so much joy, & love as well as an enormous amount of work, but they are years I would return to in a heartbeat.

Brian was a devoted father, sharing in the diaper changes, baths, bedtime stories, and belting out the requested "Hark the Harold Angel’s Sing" (year-round) at bedtime. As the kids grew, there would be school projects, carpools, field trips, lessons, sports, concerts, and school plays. Brian was there, video camera in tow, assisting with it all. Countless cherished memories were created together on family vacations with some of our favorites being the summer trips to Ocean City, MD.

After 29 years of marriage, we learned to lean on the love and respect we still felt for each other and shifted into a new chapter of friendship as we continued to celebrate holidays & special occasions together with our growing family.  Brian remained, as always, willing to help whenever he was needed in any way at all.  Rest in Peace my dear & special friend. You did so very well in this lifetime, and I am incredibly grateful to have had over 42 years with you in mine. Your presence is irreplaceable, but I will hold tight to the many beautiful ways I see you reflected in who each of our children are today.

Thank you for all the love & the laughter...for everything.  🩵💔🩵