He was one of the good guys in the world – fair, easy to talk to and known as the guy who got the job done.
Such were the tributes paid by Chenango County leaders, friends and colleagues about the life and legacy of the late Sheriff Joseph Benenati Jr. yesterday as they learned of his death at age 97.
Most acknowledged that Joe Benenati was one of the greatest public servants they had ever known, having spent 24 years with the New York State Police and 22 as Chenango County Sheriff on top of a distinguished five-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Second World War.
“His whole life was dedicated to helping people. There’s no greater tribute to him than the service that he did in this county and for the country,” said Chenango County Sheriff Ernest Cutting.
Cutting’s predecessor, former Sheriff Thomas J. Loughren, said Benenati was the most influential person in his life outside of his own father. He was a mentor, teaching Loughren the ins and outs of public service beginning from when he was a cadet, and later, encouraging Loughren to run for sheriff. Benenati remained a sounding board and friend to Loughren up until his death.
“Let me tell you something, he was tough. But most of all, he taught me how to treat people,” said Loughren. “He put the people and the community first, always. I didn’t realize it at the time, but there’s not a lot of leaders who actually talk the talk and walk the walk like he did.”
Loughren’s isn’t the only one whose career Benenati influenced.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him,” said Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino, who credits the former sheriff with giving him his own start in law enforcement.
He described Benenati as “bigger than life,” not only in stature, but also in experience and the respect he commanded.
“I think he was 10 feet tall,” Angelino said, smiling at the thought of the man who was his mentor and, in later years, friend.
He remembers with great pride the time when, as a 20-year old deputy sheriff, he heard someone refer to him as “one of Benenati’s men.”
“That was the highest complement,” he said. “I would only hope to be half the man he is.”
The Honorable Supreme Court Judge Kevin M. Dowd said Benenati was “one of the last of the greatest human institutions we have here.”
“He had a way of getting people to work, a leader. He was a Class A, straight shooter, number one gentleman; a role model of what a sheriff should be,” said Dowd.
Loughren remarked upon Benenati’s life as one of 12 children, a survivor of both the Depression and the war, a rough rider with the New York State Police and winner of state and national recognition for starting the New York State summer youth camp in Chenango County and the prisoner work release program in the 1970s, among other professional accomplishments.
Benenati’s relationships with business people in the community through Rotary helped employ inmates at the county jail, giving them opportunities for employment.
“He would drive them to their jobs, charge them $10 for room and board and they’d end up with money in the bank when they got out of jail,” Loughren said.
A history buff, Benenati is remembered for raising the funds for and guiding the restoration of the Chenango County Courthouse in 1976. As a tribute, his portrait has been permanently placed in the lobby of the courthouse near the preserved original Lady Justice.
Chenango County Family and Surrogate Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan said the passing of his family’s long time friend and personal icon was “very sad.”
Benenati graduated high school with Sullivan’s mother and served in the Marines with his father in the Philippines. Judge Sullivan said he heard countless stories through the years about Benenati’s successful raid of a Mafia chief, meeting with Jack Ruby in prison in Texas and his philosophy about rehabilitating convicts.
“He was an icon ... everybody listened to and looked up to him, not only here but throughout the state. Wherever I’ve traveled to legal conferences through the year, somebody wants to tell me stories about him,” said Sullivan.
Benenati gained statewide support for Camp Pharsalia, and personally hosted visiting Governor Nelson Rockefeller on a tour of the minimum security prison as well as the Chenango County Courthouse and former Jail. He developed a rehabilitation program for first-time offenders, organizing retired teachers to school the inmates toward a high school equivalency diploma and later raising money for presents to give to the graduates.
“He had a special place in his heart for that,” Sullivan said, “but he likewise lost patience with people who were lazy, who didn’t want to make changes in their life, and people who were persistent offenders.”
The Wilson Funeral Home in Norwich is handling the arrangements for Mr. Benenati. A complete obituary appears on Page 6 of today’s Evening Sun.
Staff Writer Melissa Stagnaro contributed to this story.