Melvin D. Benson

Obituary Melvin D. Benson 78, of Hurley NY

Melvin D. Benson, born November 4, 1944, passed on March 9 2023 at the age of 78. Although his body was failing him, he died at home with all his mental faculties intact.

He was born in Esperance, NY, to Thelma E. Lettis and Robert J. Benson. He is survived by one sister, Glenda Cooper of Arizona. He was raised in upstate NY in the Ballston Lake area. They lived on a farm and he actually attended a one room schoolhouse in his early years. As he grew up, he eagerly participated in learning the construction trades and mechanics. Before he graduated from Burnt Hills High school in Ballston Lake, he had purchased his own truck --cash --with money he had earned working at contracting jobs.

The day after he graduated he left home to travel the country in his truck working contracting jobs. Over the next year or two he worked in or drove through at least 45 of the contiguous United States, missing "a couple in the upper left corner".

He was installing a siding job in Putnam Valley, NY, when the owner's daughter leaned out of an upstairs window to talk to him. They fell in love and he married Gail P. Benson (nee McConnell) in 1964. They moved first to Kingston, NY, then in 1977 to Hurley, NY.

They had one daughter, Sharon Benson, b. 1966. Over the years they had a series of beloved cats and a few dogs as well. He would (correctly) tell any pet living in our house that that pet had won the lottery for homes.

He briefly owned and operated a logging business in the late 60s, and then he worked contracting both in his own name and as an installer for Sears and local roofing/siding/window installation businesses. He basically could build or fix anything he put his hand to.

In the 1980s he became a corrections officer for NYS. He spent most of his career at Eastern Correctional facility in Napanoch, NY, first as an officer, and later as a Sergeant. He continued to do contracting on the side during his NYS Corrections career.

In the late 1990s he helped clear some land for artist Judy Pfaff. That chance interaction developed into the design and building of her studio complex in Tivoli, NY. After a year or two he was part of the 'crew' at her studio, and even provided a giant tree stump with its root system intact that became a focal point of her 'Buckets of Rain" installation in New York City. His working relationship and friendship with Judy and her ever changing crew lasted for more than 20 years.

That wasn't his only creative accomplishment. His daughter Sharon's involvement in historic reenactment roped him into building a series of fabulous period themed tiny houses. These garnered great acclaim within the reenactment group and they occasionally come up on random internet 'top 20 tiny house' design pages. He also made detailed miniature Adirondack cabin birdhouses that he gave to good friends, and he dabbled in making furniture.

For over 50 years his favorite local eatery has been the Dietz Stadium Diner, and he was a fixture of the 'old fogies' breakfast crew at the counter in the morning. We all have blood family and chosen family – he felt the staff and social group at the diner were his chosen family.

He is survived by his daughter and one last pet cat. His wife Gail pre-deceased him in January of 2016. Jane and John Franklin of Kingston and their children were the closest of his in laws.

He had a close relationship with several of his neighbors as well, particularly Vincent Napoli who became like a son to him.

Per his wishes there will be no funeral or visitation. A private celebration of life/scattering of the ashes will be held in warmer weather, probably in May.