Peter Bennett — one of Staples High School’s most legendary teachers, who shaped thousands of lives during a 33-year career as a social studies teacher — died May 19, in Virginia. He was 88, and had suffered a short period of declining health.
Fittingly for a lover of history, he was born on July 4, 1936, in Providence. His father was The Right Rev. Granville Gaylord Bennett, the 8th Episcopal bishop of Rhode Island.
He graduated from Amherst College in 1958, then earned graduate certification in secondary education at Wesleyan University.
He served 2 terms in the Connecticut National Guard, as a corporal.
Peter married Ellen Duckworth in 1958. They enjoyed more than 66 years of teaching and exploring the world together.
At Staples, Peter was an early proponent, and elected member, of the Staples Governing Board, That innovative group — comprised of administrators, teachers and students — made nearly all decisions for the school in the 1970s, except for personnel and funding.
Former colleague Phil Woodruff — himself a legendary social studies teacher — called Peter “scholarly, thoughtful and precise — an artist of the blackboard. He truly cared about kids, and they knew it. He had the same high standards for himself and the youngsters.”
Peter Bennett
In addition to teaching, Peter wrote a 57-page teachers’ manual for the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare, called “What Happened on Lexington Green.” He continued to lecture and speak on many topics throughout his retirement.
A particular focus of his teaching was about India, Asia, China and Japan. He was associated with the Asia Society in New York City. As ambassadors for Air India, he and Ellen gave workshops for travel agents, sharing their first-hand experiences and enthusiasm for the country.
Peter took his family to New Delhi for his sabbatical year in 1977-78. He and Ellen returned several times, to visit friends made there.
After retiring from teaching, he lived Virginia for almost 30 years — first in Williamsburg, then in a retirement community in Irvington.
Peter and Ellen continued to travel in retirement. They saw the Great Wall of China, and visited Tibet, France, England, New Zealand and the Panama Canal.
A former baseball, football and basketball player, he was also an accomplished golfer, with single-digit handicap. In Virginia he enjoyed lawn bowling, and played in competitive tournaments.
A self-taught guitar player, Peter also enjoyed the banjo, and tried the sitar. He spent many retirement years in barbershop groups. He and Ellen also sang together in the Chesapeake Chorale.
The Episcopal church was a constant in Peter’s life. In Connecticut, he served on the Southport Trinity Church vestry.
Peter’s is survived by his wife Ellen; children: Jennifer Richard Ruth), Jonathan (Susanna Breese) and Joshua Corrette-Bennett (Stephanie Corrette-Bennett); grandchildren Madeline and Dove Corrette-Bennett; nephew, Robert Gwin III and family, and the families of his half-sister, Virginia-Moulds. He was predeceased by his half sisters Elizabeth Gwin and Virginia Moulds.
A service was held at Grace Episcopal Church in Kilmarnock, Virginia. He was held in the Grace Episcopal Church cemetery.
Donations in Peter’s name may be made to Amherst College.
