Ben was kind, quietly observant, incredibly incisive and expressive. He was quick to lighten the mood while acknowledging the truth in whatever the previous mood had been. A sensitive soul, he could entertain without glossing over or negating the others in the room as attention focused on him. He seemed to relish being completely himself in one moment, and embodying someone else the next. He is one of those many Williams classmates with whom I was never close, but whose company I enjoyed thoroughly whenever our paths would cross. I hope that his life was as rich as it felt like he tried to make it for others. And that he knew how appreciated and important his talents were.
Ben was incredibly talented. During our 4-year stint at Williams as theatre majors, Ben was in almost every theatre class I took. He often set the bar for what everyone else in class was trying to achieve with his bold choices and full-on commitment.
I remember Regina Kelly ’86, the director of the Freshman Revue, regretted not casting him and made up for it by putting him in her senior thesis project about Cassandra. He was the only other actor in her production besides herself. and of course he was amazing as always.
I lost touch with Ben after graduation, and I don’t know very much about his professional theatre career, but I have no doubt he continued to excel and set a high bar in anything to which he set his mind. His death comes as a shock, especially because I feel we’re all still so young, yet age is creeping up on us fast (who else can see 60 on the horizon??), and of course it is a constant reminder of this ephermal life, its fragility, how we must seize EVERY day (carpe diem), and that no one gets out of here alive. He will be missed. May the Ancestors welcome him home with open arms <3<3<3
I am sad to hear of Ben’s death. Over the years, I have thought about him and his theater career. I always respected his commitment to the theater. As a fellow Theater major, I spent a lot of time with him in the last few years. He intimidated me a little because he seemed so confident in his choices. I thought he looked a little askance at me because I also played lacrosse, didn’t always where black, and spent a lot of time not in the theater. (As I write this, I am aware that I have no idea if he spent a lot of time in the Theater… I assume he did just because I didn’t see him at the other places I was. I am reminded of what happens when I assume.) Yet, he always treated me with such generosity and kindness.
I am grateful to have known him.
I was fortunate to act in a play Ben directed our (perhaps) sophomore year, along with Blake and Stephanie. I recall his patience and kindness as a director. I acted with him in several other productions, and he was always a committed presence on stage and a hard worker behind it. He was a good guy.
I note his passing was the same day as the Saturday of our 35th reunion. Ooof.
Ben was kind, quietly observant, incredibly incisive and expressive. He was quick to lighten the mood while acknowledging the truth in whatever the previous mood had been. A sensitive soul, he could entertain without glossing over or negating the others in the room as attention focused on him. He seemed to relish being completely himself in one moment, and embodying someone else the next. He is one of those many Williams classmates with whom I was never close, but whose company I enjoyed thoroughly whenever our paths would cross. I hope that his life was as rich as it felt like he tried to make it for others. And that he knew how appreciated and important his talents were.
Ben was incredibly talented. During our 4-year stint at Williams as theatre majors, Ben was in almost every theatre class I took. He often set the bar for what everyone else in class was trying to achieve with his bold choices and full-on commitment.
I remember Regina Kelly ’86, the director of the Freshman Revue, regretted not casting him and made up for it by putting him in her senior thesis project about Cassandra. He was the only other actor in her production besides herself. and of course he was amazing as always.
I lost touch with Ben after graduation, and I don’t know very much about his professional theatre career, but I have no doubt he continued to excel and set a high bar in anything to which he set his mind. His death comes as a shock, especially because I feel we’re all still so young, yet age is creeping up on us fast (who else can see 60 on the horizon??), and of course it is a constant reminder of this ephermal life, its fragility, how we must seize EVERY day (carpe diem), and that no one gets out of here alive. He will be missed. May the Ancestors welcome him home with open arms <3<3<3
I am sad to hear of Ben’s death. Over the years, I have thought about him and his theater career. I always respected his commitment to the theater. As a fellow Theater major, I spent a lot of time with him in the last few years. He intimidated me a little because he seemed so confident in his choices. I thought he looked a little askance at me because I also played lacrosse, didn’t always where black, and spent a lot of time not in the theater. (As I write this, I am aware that I have no idea if he spent a lot of time in the Theater… I assume he did just because I didn’t see him at the other places I was. I am reminded of what happens when I assume.) Yet, he always treated me with such generosity and kindness.
I am grateful to have known him.
I was fortunate to act in a play Ben directed our (perhaps) sophomore year, along with Blake and Stephanie. I recall his patience and kindness as a director. I acted with him in several other productions, and he was always a committed presence on stage and a hard worker behind it. He was a good guy.
I note his passing was the same day as the Saturday of our 35th reunion. Ooof.
Rest in peace Ben