In Loving Memory: Stephen Gregory Benavides

 

In early December, I lost my father, Stephen Gregory Benavides.  He passed away at the age of 74 while living peacefully in his retirement with my mother on the family ranchito in Temecula, California.  It’s hard to put into words what an incredible man he was and the impact he had on everyone lucky enough to know him.

My dad took pride in his pursuit to be a Renaissance Man, maximizing his time with endless hobbies and interests.  Whether he was scuba diving (over 3,500 hours underwater!), fighting to save California’s marine ecosystems, or perfecting his highly acclaimed nature photography that will forever blow peoples’ minds, he did it all with a passion that made you want to do more, try harder, and care deeper. His photos told stories about the world he loved so much—and shared with so many.

I’m especially grateful for his commitment to family. To him, family wasn’t just important—it was everything. He cherished every gathering, every photo, and every connection, and he worked tirelessly to bring us all together.

For me, it’s the everyday memories that stick the most.  As a father, he showed up for everything: boy scouts, academics, careers, travel emergencies, hard conversations, course corrections, and everything in between.  I can still hear his advice in my head and feel his guidance when I face tough decisions.  But more than anything, I’ll miss... him.  He was more than a dad; he was a teacher, a storyteller, an adventurer, an artist, a chef, a conservationist, a professional, a gentleman, and my best friend.  

While on a walkabout with him years ago exploring ancient redwood forests in search of the Grove of the Titans, he shared with me one of his favorite moments in cinema.  It was a line spoken by Auda Abu Tayi in Lawrence of Arabia during the famous tent scene, and it always reminds me of him.

"I carry twenty-three great wounds, all got in battle. Seventy-five men have I killed with my own hands in battle. I scatter, I burn my enemies' tents. I take away their flocks and herds. The Turks pay me a golden treasure, yet I am poor! Because I am a river to my people!”

…he was, and forever will be.