Roger Lee Benson

Roger Lee Benson, 72, Woodstock, died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at his home after an extended illness. 

He was born Dec. 30, 1939, in his grandmother’s home in Huntley, to Gordon and Violet Benson. He grew up in Wonder Lake, graduated from McHenry High School in 1958, and received his undergraduate education in zoology and chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana, where he was a member of the varsity baseball team. He graduated from medical school at the University of Illinois-Chicago in 1966. His medical residency in internal medicine at Cook County Hospital was interrupted by military service in the US Navy Medical Corps, where he served as a physician in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. He developed a great fondness and admiration for the Vietnamese people, and subsequently returned to Vietnam as an AMA-sponsored volunteer physician. 

After returning to Chicago, he completed his medical residency at Cook County Hospital and continued his career as an attending physician. He was on the medical staff at Loyola University Medical Center from 1983 to 1993, and also Michael Reese Hospital from 1988 to 1990. From 1990 to 2003, he provided medical care to inmates at Cook County Jail. In recent years, he also practiced at the Milwaukee County Department of Corrections. Known as a man with a gentle soul, he was  dedicated to serving the medical needs of his patients. 

He also loved antique collecting, Cajun dancing and music. He was an avid supporter of the Chicago folk scene and was a board member of Offsquare Music in Woodstock. He also served on the board of the Woodstock Mozart Festival for many years. 

Survivors include his wife of nine years, Linda Noggle; a stepdaughter, Camille Altay, Brooklyn;, N.Y., two brothers, Rodney (Grace) Benson, Stephenson, Mich., and Len Benson, Woodstock; one nephew; two nieces, and many cherished friends and colleagues in Chicago and Woodstock. 

Visitation was held July 8 at Schneider-Leucht-Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, Woodstock.  The funeral was July 9 at the funeral home.

Memorials can be made to the Woodstock Mozart Festival, C/O Woodstock Opera House, ATTN: Anita Whalen, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock, IL 60098.