Elias Eliot “Dr. Ben” Benezra passed away peacefully on Monday Oct. 2, 2017 at the Bridgeway Assisted Living in Bensenville where he stayed. He was 95. Ben was a long time resident of Elmhurst and Oak Brook where he practiced psychiatry for many years. He worked at 103 Haven in Elmhurst, 200 Professional Building in Oak Brook, Elmhurst Hospital and Hinsdale Hospital for more than 49 years. He was dedicated to his career and was gratified to help his patients. He worked until he was 85 years old.
Born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, he fled during World War II on the cusp of Nazi invasion. He attended Carleton College in Minnesota where he met his first wife and mother to his children, Elizabeth Howe. He graduated from Northwestern University Medical School and began his practice in Kansas, New York and Barksdale, La., where he served in the Air Force. Ben will be dearly missed and is survived by his wife, Barbara, children, Philip, Beth and Tom, grandchildren, Noah, Elise, Rachel and Quinn and step children, Chuck and Kate Saletta. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Unity Temple in Oak Park. Arrangements provided by the family.
