DR. BRIAN THEODORE BENTON 1955 – 2017

DR. BRIAN THEODORE BENTON 1955 – 2017

LISBON – Dr. Brian Theodore Benton MD of Lisbon, CT, husband of Muriel “Bunny” Benton and father of Rosemary and Ian Benton, son of Mary Fay and the late Charles T. Benton, died peacefully at home surrounded by family on April, 27th 2017. He was born July 11th, 1955 in Manchester, NH.

Brian grew up in Goffstown, NH and graduated from Providence College. He received his medical degree from the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Mexico in 1980. He completed his psychiatric residency at the University of Connecticut in 1986. Following that he worked as a psychiatrist at William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich, CT for 29 years, serving as the Medical Director for the Center for Mental Health for 20 years. He also served as the Medical Director for Catholic Charities of Norwich CT. He will be remembered for his ready smile and dedication to his patients and their families.
Brian contributed to the field of mental health as a whole and advocated for his patients through his work with the American Psychiatric Association. He served as a member of the executive committee as well as the representative of New England and Canada to the APA. He also served as a member of the Council on Minority Mental Health and Health Disparities. Given his Cherokee ancestry, he tirelessly worked with the Native American, Native Alaskan, and Native Hawaiian APA component.

Brian was passionate about all manner of things, from model trains to revolutionary war history to genealogy. He and Bunny were married for 30 years and family was the center of his life. He loved sharing science fiction and playing video games with his children. And he had a special affection for the many pets that passed through his life. He was a supportive and loving father who enjoyed nothing more than making dinner for his family, traveling to Christmas celebrations worldwide for his and Bunny’s anniversary in December, and spending time building memories at their Ashland, NH camp.

Besides his wife and two children, daughter-in-law, Abby Nourse Van Meter, and his mother Mary Fay Benton of Goffstown, NH, he leaves six brothers-in-law: Dr. Brendan Magauran, Jr. and his wife, Dr. Ellen Hilsinger of Lexington, Mass.; Dr. John Magauran of Honolulu, Hawaii; Thomas and Elizabeth Magauran of Marion, Mass., Dr. Raymond Magauran and his wife Dr. Kathleen Kerrigan of Longmeadow, Mass.; Attorney Edward Magauran and his wife Mika, of Honolulu, Hawaii; and Dr. James Magauran of Newton, Mass.
He also leaves four sisters-in-law: Dr. Nancy Magauran of Newburyport, Mass.; Dr. Mary Magauran and her husband Jack Smith of Andover, Mass.; Dr. Maureen Magauran and her husband Dr. Patrick Hanks of N. Andover, Mass.; and Dr. Claire Magauran and her husband Dr. Puncho Gurung of E. Longmeadow, Mass.; and the late Martha Lysik and her husband Rick Lysik of Block Island, RI.

In addition to his 11 sibling’s in-law, Brian leaves his mother-in-law Muriel Magauran of Enfield, Conn., as well as 18 nieces and nephews. His uncle and aunt, Woodrow and Louise Thompson, and his cousin Larissa and her family will also deeply miss him.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, May 1, 2017 at 10 am at Saint Mary’s Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 34 N Main Street, Jewett City, CT. The funeral will assemble at church. Dr. Benton’s family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday, April 30 from 1 to 4PM at Gagne-Piechowski Funeral Home, 490 Voluntown Road, Griswold CT. Following the funeral there will be a reception at the Restaurant at River Ridge, 259 Preston Road, Jewett City, CT. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in his memory to William W Backus Hospital, Office of Philanthropy and Development, 326 Washington Street, Norwich CT 06360; Catholic Charities, 331 E Main St, Norwich CT 06360; or Eastern Connecticut Hematology and Oncology, 330 Washington Street, Suite 220, Norwich CT 06360.