Evelyn Benjamin

Evelyn M. Benjamin, 96, of Northport, NY passed away on Monday, June 19, 2023 at Huntington Hospital. Evelyn was born in Oneonta, NY on May 14, 1927 to Myron and Elsie (Grant) Wiest. She had one older sister (Violet), and an older brother (Leslie) who died in infancy. Family legend has it that it snowed on the day of her birth.

Evelyn loved music from the time she was a baby when she would sing at the top of her lungs in the early mornings, much to the annoyance of her late-to-rise older sister. As a young child she was asked to sing “Jesus Loves Me” at the funeral of a friend. She was confirmed at Atonement Lutheran Church, Oneonta, where she sang in the choir. In high school, she was a member of the choir and the drum majorettes, where her specialty was doing cartwheels down the parade routes. She graduated from Oneonta High School, Class of 1944. After graduation she attended Oneonta State Teachers College (SUNY Oneonta) where she was a member of the choir and of the Alpha Kappa Phi sorority. During summers, she and fellow OHS Class of ‘44 friend Virginia “Ginny” Shultis shared many adventures waitressing at various summer resorts. She graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor's degree in teaching.

Evelyn married Carlton E. Benjamin on June 20, 1948. Her first teaching job was in Schenevus, followed by a teaching position in Sea Cliff, Long Island. Shortly after moving to Long Island they bought their first home, a new Levitt house purchased under the GI bill. After a few years of teaching, she took time off to raise three daughters. In 1956, she and Carlton moved to Northport where they remained for the rest of their lives.

Evelyn returned to teaching in 1962 after being personally asked by the principal of the newly opened Pulaski Road School in East Northport. She insisted on having a piano in her classroom, which she used to entertain her students. She started staging plays at her school and directed them while playing piano accompaniment. Evelyn taught at Pulaski Rd. School for 25 years, retiring in 1987. She was beloved by her students and respected by her fellow faculty members and staff.

Evelyn was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in East Northport where she taught Sunday School and sang in the choir, often as a soloist. An accomplished pianist, she filled in as the organist when needed at both St. Paul's Lutheran Church and St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Northport. She founded the bell choir at St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Besides teaching school, Evelyn taught piano lessons from her home and was a soprano in the Northport Chorale which was founded by her husband in her honor. After retiring, she and Carlton enjoyed spending winters near her sister and brother-in-law in Redington Shores and Largo, Florida where Evelyn directed musical variety acts and plays at two senior living communities (Parsley’s and Lake Seminole Resort). She and Carlton enjoyed traveling, square dancing and spending time with family and friends at Woodloch Pines family resort in Hawley, PA. Evelyn was the oldest living member of the Klaus & Betty Grant extended family, and she attended the family reunion held in Oneonta in 2022.

She is survived by her daughters and their husbands: Elaine (Rich Rosner) of Vestal; Pam (Don Woods) of Northport; June (George Hart) of Punta Gorda, Fla.; six grandchildren: Christopher and Heather; Jess (Liam), Kellie (Jonathan), Sara (Stephen), and Katie (Zach); and four great-grandchildren: Sierra, Ava, Sterling, and Aria; as well as many friends and former colleagues. Evelyn is also survived by many teachers whom she mentored, including former student, Antoinette Blanck. Her family would like to give special thanks to her physician of many years, Patricia Matos, MD; and to her many caregivers, especially her longtime home health aide, Marco Everett.

In 2013, she was predeceased by her husband, Carlton, with whom she shared 65 happy years. She was also predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law, Violet and Willard “Bill” Hanson.

Burial will be at Oneonta Plains Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 7, 2023 followed by visitation at 11:00 a.m. and a memorial service at Atonement Lutheran Church, Oneonta at 11:30 a.m. with Rev. Paul Messner officiating. A reception at the church hall will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 120 Vernon Valley Rd., East Northport, NY 11731; Atonement Lutheran Church, 1 Center St., Oneonta, NY 13820; The Northport Chorale, P.O. Box 55, Northport, NY 11768; or a charity of one’s choice. Evelyn’s beautiful voice and joyful disposition will be missed by all who knew her.

To light a candle or send an online condolence please visit www.bookhoutfuneralhome.com.

Funeral arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home of Oneonta.