Robert L. Bennett ’57

Robert L. Bennett ’57 passed away peacefully on November 30, 2023. Bob graduated from Nutley (New Jersey) High School and attended Dartmouth with the class of 1955. After his sophomore year, he joined the U.S. Army and then returned to graduate, choosing the class of 1957. He majored in geography and was active in Gamma Delta Chi, the Glee Club, and WDCR. Bob relocated to San Francisco, where he pursued a career in logistics with Shell Oil, T.J. Lipton, and Dole Foods. He had the good fortune to spend his entire career in the Bay Area yet traveled on business throughout the United States and Canada. Upon retirement he moved to the great wine country of Sonoma County, where he planted and grew award-winning grapes that were sold to home winemakers and commercial wineries. Thirty years ago he started a home winemaking club called Garage Enologists of North County. The club grew to nearly 100 members. Bob taught winemaking classes in his garage, judged amateur winemaking competitions, and conducted fundraising winery tours to benefit the local library. Bob’s extensive community involvement included 12 years as a library commissioner, ombudsman, and president of an investment club. He and his wife, Christine, enjoyed trips to Europe, the Far East, and across the United States, always returning to their deck to enjoy a glass of their own Bennett Ridge wine. Christine, Bob’s wife of 63 years, predeceased him. He is survived by his sons Scott and Stephen and daughter Lynne.