North Woodstock, New Hampshire
Sebastian Anthony (Buz) Benza passed away at his home in North Woodstock, NH on August 16, 2023.
Buz was predeceased by the love of his life, Patricia Celia Lynch, and is survived by their five children: Regina (married to Hamdi Abdou), Thomas (married to Geralyn), Patricia (married to Warren Bahr), John (married to Debbie) and Suzanne (married to Jim Colangelo). He was also predeceased by his sister Anita, brothers Raymond, Joseph, and twin Francis. After he married his childhood sweetheart, Pat, they raised five children together in New Rochelle, NY.
Buz served as 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and in the National Guard. He was a graduate of Iona College and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. He was a graduate and past president of the Westchester Chapter of the American Institute of Banking. He began his career at the Dollar Savings Bank in NY, followed by the County Trust Company where he became Regional Vice President in 1973. He was a Rotarian and a Knight of Columbus, active in community service, serving the Red Cross, March of Dimes, Boy Scouts, Yonkers Heart Fund and United Way. He was a director of Westchester Heart Association and Yonkers Chamber of Commerce, Trustee of St. Johns Riverside Hospital, member of the Westchester Board of Realtors and a director of the United Way in Yonkers. Buz retired from banking in 1987 to enjoy life in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the east coast of Florida. He worked and golfed at the Jack O'Lantern Resort and later the Owl's Nest Resort until 2020.
Buz was a loving grandfather to 11 grandchildren: Michael Palladino and his wife Elaine, Thomas Benza and his wife Rebecca, Andrew Palladino and his wife Ashley, Joseph Benza and his wife, Kendal, Joanna Kai Shepherd and her husband Josh, Anne Bahr, Kristin (Kaz) Palladino, Matthew Bahr and his wife Emily, Jesse Benza, Stephen Colangelo, Nicole Colangelo; and 10 great-grandchildren:
Logan and Mia Palladino; Colton, Addison and Brooklyn Palladino; Jack, Luke, and Ellie Benza; and Quinn and Lee Shepherd.
Calling hours are Wednesday, August 23 from 4-6 p.m. at Mayhew Funeral Home in Plymouth, NH. A mass of the Catholic Resurrection will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church in Lincoln, NH, on Thursday, August 24 at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Woodstock Cemetery in Woodstock, NH.
The family kindly suggests donations be made to St Joseph's Church, Concord Hospital, or a charity of your choice.