Doris (Jean) Kurzenknabe Benfer

November 5, 1939 – February 15, 2025

Doris was a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania. The daughter of John and Emma (Gusky) Kurzenknabe, Doris spent her childhood in Harrisburg, PA with her brother John, graduating from William Penn High School in 1957. She went on to study Biology at Gettysburg College where she was a member of Delta Gamma sorority, graduating in 1961 Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. In 1967, she received her Masters in Education from West Chester State College.

A lifelong educator, Doris started her teaching career at Haverford High School in 1961 where she stayed for three years. Post-divorce in 1976, Doris taught Biology for three years at West Chester State College before settling into a 30-year career at Delaware County Community College (DCCC). A single parent herself, Doris took special joy in teaching women who by choice or due to life circumstances, finally got their turn at higher education. Doris taught Anatomy and Physiology to aspiring nursing students and often joked she would encounter her former students as nurses scattered amongst the local hospitals should she ever need care. Her reputation was that of a very demanding teacher in a friendly and comfortable atmosphere. Prior to her retirement in 2007, Doris was honored by DCCC in 1991 with the Gould Award for Excellence in Teaching.

If you knew Doris, you knew she had a lifelong love of sports. Maybe it started with that high school basketball game where she (apparently) scored 30 points in one game? Or by playing basketball at Gettysburg? Wherever the love began, Doris was a tireless cheerleader to three kids and nine grandkids throughout the decades. All three children swam competitively and went on to swim, play rugby, and play soccer at the collegiate level at Princeton. For her grandkids, she traveled widely to attend games from weekend matches to National Championships. Many of her children’s friends knew “Bibi” from the sideline of sporting events. Doris reserved a special love for her Philadelphia teams and enjoyed a fabulous last act watching with her friends at Rydal Retirement Community when her beloved Eagles won Super Bowl LIX.

For fifty years, she maintained a small cabin in the Pocono Mountains, creating a quiet get-away for the kids over the years. She also loved shopping for bargains, spoiling everyone with gifts from her “store.” As the grandchildren aged, she modernized, sending monetary gifts via Venmo for birthdays and major holidays. She loved being generous.

Doris is survived by her three children – Dana Benfer White (Gregory) of Dover, MA, Diane Benfer Banyard (David) of Shaker Heights, OH and David Andrew Benfer, Jr “Drew” (Tiffanie) of Huntingdon Valley, PA as well as her beloved nine grandkids: Alexandra, Emma, Andrew, and Reis White; Anna, Trey, and Teagan Banyard; Clancey and Cameron Benfer. As travel became more difficult the last few years, Doris took special joy in watching those nine grandkids explore the world. All together now, let’s cheer, “Fly Doris Fly.”

A celebration of life will be held this summer at Rydal Waters Clubhouse, where she had been welcomed so warmly by the residents since November 2021. Should you wish to honor Doris’ memory, the family suggests a donation to Delaware County Community College, which supports Doris’ commitment to accessible higher education. You can make donations through the link http://www.dccc.edu/makeagift with a dropdown menu where you can designate Doris Benfer as honoree. May the memories of our time with Doris warm our hearts forever.  

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