Terry Benjamin remembered for long career with EFAA

Feb. 23—When Terry Benjamin went for a hike, he noticed everything — the setting sun, the clouds, every bird along the path.

That zest for life and appreciation of the present moment made an impact on his family and closest friends, and it carried over to his work as the executive director of Boulder-based Emergency Family Assistance Association, known by most as EFAA.

"A lot of us are just better human beings ... because we got the opportunity to be around Terry," past EFAA board president Lew Visscher said. "We learned a lot from him."

Benjamin, 73, on Jan. 21 passed away in his sleep. He had cystic angiomatosis, a rare disease that causes bony cysts, and congestive heart failure.

For 33 years, the Longmont resident served as executive director of EFAA, which provides food, financial assistance, family housing and case management to those in need. He also was a founding member of Longmont's OUR Center and served as executive director of both entities simultaneously for more than a decade.

When he retired in 2013, Benjamin was awarded the top award from the Colorado Nonprofit Association, the United Way Spirit of the Community Award and the Daily Camera Lifetime Achievement Pacesetter Award.

Family, friends and former coworkers remember Benjamin as an upbeat person who could bring laughter and positivity to any situation.

"He could always bring some lightness into this difficult work that he was doing and that he inspired all of us to do as well," former EFAA board president Nancy Sanders said.

His work made a mark on Boulder County. Visscher said there was a time when people didn't know about EFAA, "but they knew Terry Benjamin."

His wife Cathy Benjamin and son Jordan Benjamin agreed. On top of that, they said Terry Benjamin was very honest about the fact that he did not have all the answers.

"He just kept learning all the time," Cathy Benjamin said. "He was never one of those people who thought he already knew everything. He knew he didn't know everything. He knew there was so much that needed to be done for an important organization like EFAA. He got the help he needed for that."

Each year, at EFAA's annual fundraiser, Terry Benjamin would share a heartwarming story about a family the organization helped. He'd typically get emotional, and former Boulder County Commissioner Ron Stewart loved to tease him about it.

But really, Stewart said, it was indicative of Benjamin's heart, the way he cared for those he served.

"He was a sentimentalist, but he was also someone who cared deeply," Stewart said.

The pair were close friends. Stewart regularly would stop by for conversation in Benjamin's garden oasis of a yard. Toward the end, that meant masked and socially distant on days when the weather permitted.

Julie Van Domelen, EFAA's current executive director, didn't know Benjamin well but said he's the reason she works for the organization. She remembers sitting in Benjamin's kitchen to talk about EFAA before she officially was hired. Van Domelen said Benjamin never lost sight of his roots. Though born in Massachusetts, Benjamin grew up in Waco, Texas.

"He was a down-to-earth social worker from Texas who really was committed to a community-based safety net," Van Domelen said.

Cathy Benjamin and Terry Benjamin fell in love in their late 40s. Both had previously been married and had children with another partner. Together, they formed a big blended family.

"There was just nobody like him," Cathy Benjamin said. "How lucky I was to be married to him."

Terry Benjamin's son Jordan Benjamin said they were more than father and son — they were best friends. Terry Benjamin was going to be the best man at his son's upcoming wedding.

As a youngster, Jordan Benjamin remembers countless adventures with his dad. They went scuba diving in Mexico and drove cross-country touring America's baseball stadiums. They were sports lovers and cheered on the Colorado Rockies and the Denver Broncos, no matter how the season fared.

Terry Benjamin was the type of dad who never missed a baseball game, and he continued to make life magical for everyone around him. He preached an "attitude of gratitude," and it rubbed off on Jordan Benjamin.

"That is your choice at the end of the day. You choose to show up and be grateful," Jordan Benjamin said.

A lifelong Democrat, Terry Benjamin spent his final day watching President Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony. He enjoyed the fireworks show and died that night in his sleep. To his family and friends, it felt serendipitous and gave them peace of mind.

When Jordan Benjamin and his dad would adventure across the United States, they'd blast Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again." The song carried Terry Benjamin from Earth to whatever's next.

"As much as he was not ready to die, as he was not ready to leave the earth ... I think he would be really happy. There was a handful of family around and he got to roll out listening to Willie," Jordan Benjamin said.