Ronald Benitez

Ronald S. Benitez, 84, of Tottenville, a retired AT&T telephone technician and Korean War veteran whose family was the center of his life, died Monday in Overlook Medical Center, Summit, N.J.

The lifelong Staten Islander was born and raised in Rossville. He had lived in Tottenville for 47 years.

Mr. Benitez graduated from Tottenville High School.

He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, seeing duty in Korea, and attained the rank of staff sergeant.

Mr. Benitez had a 40-year career with AT&T as a telephone technician, working in Linden and Elizabeth, N.J. He retired in 1993.

He was a member of the Stolzenthaler Council, Knights of Columbus, and the Mount Manresa Retreat Team.

Mr. Benitez most loved being with his family.He was very proud of his children and their accomplishments, and he loved having his grandchildren around him. His five sons had played football at Monsignor Farrell High School, and he loved watching them play, family said.

He was very hardworking, caring and loving, said his son, Sean Benitez. He always put his children first. He was a good man and would do anything to help anyone, and especially his family.

Mr. Benitez also had the opportunity to meet two presidents, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, his family said.

He was a devout Catholic and parishioner of Our Lady Help of Christians R.C. Church, Tottenville.

Surviving, along with his son, Sean, are his wife of 48 years, the former Janet Kelly; his sons, Ronald P., James, Timothy and William; his daughters, Maureen Fries, Kathleen Lemmon and Peggy Cedeno; his sister, Arline Torocco, and 16 grandchildren.

The funeral will be Friday from the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville, with a Mass at 11 a.m. in Our Lady Help of Christians Church. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains.

Services: Our Lady Help of Christian's RC Church Friday, October 2, 2015 11:00AM

Visitation: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Wednesday, September 30, 2015 & Thursday, October 1, 2015 from 2-4 & 7-9PM

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ronald's name to Our Lady Help of Christian's RC Church, would be appreciated.

Cemetery: Resurrection Cemetery (Staten Island)

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Church: Our Lady Help of Christians R.C.Church