Gerald Bennett Obituary

Gerald Webb Bennett Jr. (Jerry) of Cathedral City, CA and Colorado Springs, CO made a peaceful transition from earthly life to the presence of our Lord on 1/29/17 in Palm Desert, CA. He was surrounded by his wife and two of his daughters at his passing. He was 89.

Jerry was born April 11, 1927 in Colorado Springs, to Colorado Springs natives Marka Webb Bennett and Gerald W. Bennett. He attended Steele School and Fountain Valley School, and then joined the Navy in the waning days of WWII. He attended Colorado College on the GI Bill where he played on the hockey and tennis teams. Jerry graduated from Yale University in 1949 with a degree in International Relations and then graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 1953. Jerry practiced law in Colorado Springs for 56 years, first with the firm Murray, Baker, and Wendleken until 1978, and then in private practice, specializing in plaintiffs' cases until his retirement in 2009.

Jerry took an active interest in politics and served as president of the Colorado Young Democrats during the Kennedy campaign in 1960. Jerry was a 4.5 tennis player. He and his men's 4.0 team won the USIA National Championship in 1993. One of his happiest moments was attending the French Open in Paris in 1996 with his wife and daughter. Golf later became his passion. He was always in the process of improving a part of his game and thought he'd finally figured it out!

Jerry was devoted to his children and helped them develop their academic skills as well as recreational skills in tennis, fly fishing, golf, and skiing. Jerry always remained optimistic in the face of difficulty and credited his positive outlook to his active involvement in sports and outdoor activities, which he learned from his grandfather, TB specialist and longtime Colorado Springs resident Dr. Gerald B. Webb. Jerry will be remembered for his great sense of humor, agility on the tennis court, skill at the bridge table, and devotion to his family, particularly his loving wife Edwina who was the love of his life.

He is survived by his wife Edwina Fawsett Bennett; brother Charles Bennett of Palm Desert and Colorado Springs ; children: Kate Bennett of San Diego, Jeb Bennett of Boulder, Molly Mohseni of Boulder, Fred Bennett of Denver , Jodie Bennett of Colorado Springs , and Gena Bennett of Colorado Springs ; his step children Susan Biggs of Colorado Springs, David Shapard of Oklahoma City, and Elizabeth Feil of Colorado Springs; 10 grandchildren and one great-grand daughter, Sienna Deegan.

He was predeceased by son Tom Bennett.

A memorial service will be held this summer in Colorado Springs. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Pikes Peak Humane Society.