Thomas E. Benevento, aged 63, passed away February 28, 2021 after a courageous fight with leukemia. Thomas was the loving husband of Laura, their relationship and marriage spanning 44 years. He was a doting father to Kate and Ev, their two beautiful daughters.

For 25 years Thomas was a skilled and dedicated Waterways Conservation Officer with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. This, his dream job, was a cornerstone of his happiness. Thomas shared the passion he had for his career with nearly everyone he met. With many years of service under his belt, he had many stories to tell and loved sharing them. As a WCO, Thomas enjoyed boating on the waters of the Commonwealth within his assigned district of southern Chester County, as well as neighboring districts when assisting fellow officers.

For many years, he set up and directed the aquatics station of the Chester County Envirothon, which was sponsored by the Chester County Conservation District. He enjoyed engaging in the Friends of Hibernia activities, especially when it came time to volunteer with the Hibernia Park Candlelight Tour held in December, when he looked forward to collaborating with fellow club members to decorate the mansion and the towering Christmas tree that dominated the ball room. He would fearlessly climb the ladder to decorate the highest limbs of the tree. He regularly attended White Clay Fly Fishers meetings and was involved in numerous other community activities over the years.

In his leisure time he took fishing trips to the ocean off the Delaware coast with his friends, fished local PA waters with his family, and particularly looked forward to summer vacation trips to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, his favorite place in the world. He loved the beach there. We often saw pods of dolphins skim the coast, watched ospreys fish the waves, spied majestic eagles perched high in the loblolly pines behind the dunes and marveled at the spectacular sunsets over the bay. A truly magical place.

Thomas was always a few steps ahead and the first to give advice or lend a hand. His caring, loyal and committed nature will be sorely missed.

In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations be made in Thomas's memory to the following foundations to commemorate his love for the ocean and to preserve and promote a clean and thriving environment.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403

The Ocean Conservancy Oceanconservancy.org/ways-to-give/

(The photo above is of Thomas fishing on Chambers Lake, Hibernia Park, in his beloved Grand Banks Dory.)