Benjamin Maxwell McDow

Ben (aka Benjammin) was born March 31, 1991 (on Easter Sunday, which would serve as a source of confusion throughout his life for those of us who always wanted to celebrate his birthday on Easter, but were too young, dumb or both to realize that Easter was not on the same day every year) to Nancy Wait-McDow and Michael McDow. Ben attended North Muskegon High School, the Art Institute of California and ultimately ITT Tech, where he received his degree in computer science. Although school was not necessarily Ben’s forte, he was – for better or worse – intellectually gifted (and as he often bragged, never missed a single day of high school or college) and had an innate ability to figure out anything and everything about a computer (which plenty of his family and friends believed included everything from connecting the DirectTV box to hacking Facebook). Ben was misunderstood by many (including himself at times), but loved by all who took the time and were blessed enough to know him. He was incredibly kind, compassionate, tender-hearted, deliberate and generous with anything and everything he had. Although purportedly anti-social, Ben was beyond thrilled to work at Coachella (one of the most social festivals on planet earth) and irrespective of what or who he had access to, Ben was most at peace immersed in nature (particularly succulents) with little more than a backpack full of (not even) basic necessities. Ben had an unusually eclectic taste in music (especially for his age) and made it a point to expose himself to a broad range of music rather than limit himself to any particular genre (although he did have a special affinity for Juice WRLD). The thought of wearing white abhorred Ben, and he insisted on wearing black from head to toe, even in 100 degree weather. When forced to be inside, Ben loved watching anime with his nieces and could watch an entire season of Stranger Things in one sitting. Ben was also a lover of anything and everything animal, and even at age 31, often sent his sister pictures of stray dogs and cats trying to get her support to bring them home to mom…

Ben is survived by his mother, sister (Ashley Malinger), nieces (Isabella and Victoria Malinger), aunts and uncles (Sheri (and Brian) Rosema, Kathy (and Don) Gasper, Gail (and Troy) Long, Max (and Dacia) Wait, Beth Ann (and Marvin) (McDow) Lange and Jo Ellen (McDow) Murphy), and many loving cousins and second cousins. Ben was preceded in death by his father, his father’s brother (Tim McDow), and his grandparents on both sides. Consistent with the characteristics that made him who he was, Ben was able to save eight lives with his selfless election and gift of organ donation, and for this reason, memorial contributions can and should be made to: Gift of Life Michigan, 3861 Research Park Dr., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108. There are no planned memorial services at this time and the family is requesting privacy in order to allow them to grieve over this tragic loss. Sharing your favorite memories of Ben on this page in order to help them through this painful process is much appreciated.

“I have no energy for hate – I either love you, wish you well, or hope you heal.”

“I wish everyone would walk gently on this earth.”

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.EverRestFuneralHomeandChapel.com for the McDow family.