We remember his white pick-up truck, gone now, a casualty of the Coral Canyon fire. Across the front of the hood was a sign that announced an important arrival-“Here Comes Ben.”
He was a legend to his neighbors-“the spirit of the canyon, the dean of the hill, the king of the mountain.” Yet, he had the soul of a mischievous boy.
He was one of the early landowners in Malibu who bought a few pieces of paradise over 60 years ago, but one of the few who didn’t end up intolerably rich. Even so, he spent his whole life giving to others. Last week, he joined his beloved wife of 53 years, Myrtle, who passed away in 1991.
One of the most important endeavors of his life started with his needing food for his pigs and mules. He started by picking up limp carrots, dried out cornhusks, and wilted lettuce from the local market. He saw that large quantities of perfectly good people food became garbage everyday. With a little help from his friends, and a little persuasion from Ben, they continued giving him produce but in addition they added fresh fruits and vegetables, bakery goods, expired shelf items, candy, dairy products, paper goods, flowers-a horn of plenty otherwise scheduled for the dumpster.
His market visits became a 36-year ritual. He faithfully picked up the food several times a week. The animals were long gone. He took it straight to various shelters and missions that help the poor and homeless. He ventured up and down the coast to deliver edible booty from Santa Monica to Ventura. For his benevolent labors, he was awarded a 1995 Malibu Times Dolphin Award as an outstanding citizen of the year.
After the fire, the losing of a lifetime worth of treasures and memorabilia would have traumatized the most robust of men. Ben became evermore frail, but remarkably he was still clear-headed and good humored. Ben’s caregivers at the hospice came to love him even in the short time they had with him. He remained always young and open to the world, addicted to stories and pranks guaranteed to make you smile or groan.
Ben is survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins and his dear Irina Svistelina who devoted herself to Ben’s well being for many years and especially these last weeks and months.
Mona Loo