Donald Benge

Donald Benge's Memorial will be on
Sunday, May 6 at 3pm
at Swordplay Burbank

In memory of Donald Benge, my dear friend, a great friend of Swordplay, and of fencing. Donald was a true man, in that he was dignified, honest, true to his word and possessed a heart of gold. As Shakespeare said "To thy own self be true" so it was with Donald. He followed his heart, was not swayed by opinion and was constantly learning and improving himself all while keeping his dignity and opened mindedness. He was a lover of fencing, and stood true to what the sword stood for. He was one of the few that believed that the sword fight is not about the sword, it is about the man. It is about honor, life respect, truth, honesty, self improvement and keeping your word. I will miss you Donald, Swordplay will miss you, but most importantly Fencing will miss you. Thank you Donald for the memories and for your friendship.

Tim Weske

I remember the first time I saw Donald Benge, 10 years ago.
I thought, 'Now who's this cock-eyed old S.O.B.?'
It would have been easy to laugh, except for his dignity.
His erudition and willingness to share his knowledge, taught generosity and sportsmanship as a way of life.
He treated everyone with a patient respect that brought out their better nature.
He fenced stubborn and crafty, and no one ever got a touch on him that didn't earn it.

Godspeed Donald.

Kevin Moran

When I first met Donald 10 yeas ago I - like many who first encountered him - thought "who IS this old codger"...not realizing that he was fencing when God had His learner's permit...I soon learned - again, like many who first encountered him - that he more than knew his way around a foil or an epee.

His style was classical...a wide, old-school stance, tight blade control, and an ability to make you do what he wanted you to do...so he could take cruel advantage of your mistakes. He did not give touches....if you got him, you earned it, and MANY rookie fencers took it as a measure of great improvement if they could beat him, or even come close.

When I first started at Swordplay we had in-house tournaments every Wednesday. There would be an average of 12 people in any given night...usually starting with no Donald in sight....then someone would ask where he was.

"Oh, MAN.....you said the name!" And as the Italian proverb says "Speak of the devil and he shall appear" Donald would waltz through the door, get dressed for fencing - often times wearing dress shoes because his sneakers were at home - and proceed to pound us into the ground...I think he took home the same gold medal dozens of times!

He was so insurmountable that we jokingly formed the "5-1 Club" because that was USUALLY the score!

As time went on age started creeping up on him, and between that and the increasing skills of the fencers, we began to beat him more often, but he was NEVER an easy bout.

In spite of getting into his 70s, he continued to represent not only Swordplay in local competitions, but the United States as a multiple-time member of the national veteran's team in both foil and epee.

Due to the fact that he started fencing in 1952, he was also known worldwide.

His signature move would be to let you get close...almost touching chests...and then pull back his weapon arm far enough to put the point in your stomach...absolutely classic Benge, and I would tell beginners to NEVER think he was too close to hit them....they rarely believed me, until he nailed them with that move.

The last time I fenced with him was a 5-touch epee bout the Thursday before he passed away...the 5-0 loss and last touch being the close-up in the gut was almost like coming full-circle, in a way.

I will miss his BAD jokes, his competitiveness, the arguments about right-of-way (ok...let's be honest, it was always the SAME argument!), even when some newbie asked him about the "Conquest" game he'd created...it was all part of what made Donald Donald.

RIP, Mr. Benge....et la!

Sam Signorelli

I simply cannot express my shock and horror at hearing about Donald Benge. I have known him since we were both young men in our 20's, that is to say, over 50 years. Donald was always more than a participant; he was a contributor. He often made my blood boil with some of the things that he said and did, but always it was clear in his mind as well as in mine, that he was doing what he saw as the best for fencing. I suspect that not everybody knows what kindnesses he did for other people, but I am certainly one of the recipients of his thoughtfulness and generosity. Both our sport and the world will be a poorer and sadder place without him. He left his mark and I shall miss him and think of him often. How much more can one say of another?

I do not know anything of his personal life; he was always both private and guarded, at least with me, but the force of his own personality will always be in my memory. He was not a bystander. Never! He took part and always helped shape fencing in our local area as well as in our division and section, to say nothing of his his activities on the national level. His passions were never hidden. You always knew what he thought and felt and never even conceived of the possibility that he had a personal agenda beyond what he felt was best for our sport. All of my memories of him are positive and warm, even those regarding our disagreements.

I wish with all my heart that he were still here among us.

Dan DeChaine

Donald contributed so many years to this division and this sport - 52, I believe. I recall seeing Donald just days prior, as he was fencing. I recall admiring his ability to remain so active and competitive, as he made a really nice, long attack with feint disengage and recover, parry counter riposte - a classic tactic of his, but done better than I had seen him do in a long time. He had so many interesting stories to tell, and unique experiences from all over the world, even recently, as he was still training and competing in the 70+ World Championships.

From the day I arrived, I also recall listening to extended arguments between Donald and younger students about right of way, and point in line, and remises. They are part of my earliest humorous memories here. I also enjoyed his periodic word games, riddles, and puzzles. You will be missed. May you rest in peace.

Al Carter

"The Donald" as I've always nicknamed him was my friend for many years too. I have fenced also when God was just learning to drive. I certainly agreed with everything said about him. I have recieved all of his bad jokes. He was my e-mail buddy, my veteran fencing team friend, I could say we have traveled the world together. I even recieved a joke the day he passed, it was one of his better ones. Thankfully I didn't fence him. I would rather argue with him. It was fun and he never changed an opinion. I didn't either. I loved his historian arguments but I was a political science major and our arguments were usually political. I didn't know him in the earlier years of fencing , I know we must have crossed paths because I was at most Nat'ls from '67 on. We were e-mail buddies for about 4 years however and I knew alot about his lovelife or lack of. His looking for a wife. His games, calendars and I think he had a new game ready to go. We will never know. I will miss him alot. I can relate to all of your letters except fencing with him. I don't fence epee. (unless they make me) I am a foil, sabre fencer from Kentucky.

Touche',
Lou Felty

Pat Gardner Bedrosian sent me an e-mail a week ago telling me of the wrong way driver and Don being killed. What a crime, what a tragedy, what a loss.

Don and I fenced with and against each other for a decade or more, all the way back to our days at Cal State Northridge (then Valley State College) with Muriel Bower the US women's Olympic fencing coach in the early 60's. We fenced together at the national NCAA tournament at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and events much earlier than that at the Falcon Studios in Hollywood. Don I'll be thinking of you, on guard, ready, fence!

Karl Dempwolf

I knew Donald for 25 years, and I remember him well for his efforts to help save the SoCal Division when we were in real trouble during the early 1980s. Donald was profoundly committed to both the sport of fencing and the community of fencers, something I will always respect and admire. As you all know, he was a fierce and determined competitor; his tenacity is the stuff of legend.

Please know that Donald’s friends and admirers at Salle D’Armes Couturier will always remember him and we lift our glasses in his honor.

With deepest sympathy,
Larry Dunn

I would like to extend my sincere expression of sympathy to Don's friends and family.
I met Don in 2005 at the Tampa World Championships, he beat me.
I evened the score in Richmond, but yet again he beat me in Atlanta.
I was looking forward to a rematch .
I knew Don as a gentle man and a Gentleman on the strip.

Gaby Weisz
Toronto,Canada