Renée Benjaminov

Obituaries

Related Photos

obit Benjaminov, Renee.jpg

Guestbook

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.

comments powered by Disqus

February 12, 2012

Anonymous ---- The Tribune Star Sun Feb 12, 2012, 05:08 AM EST

TERRE HAUTE — March 15, 1924 -

Feb. 10, 2012

Renée Benjaminov, 87, of Terre Haute, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, died early Friday morning, Feb. 10, 2012, at Union Hospital. Renée taught learning disabled children at the Children’s Learning Center of Hamilton Center and worked as a special education teacher in the Clay County school system.

Renée is survived by a daughter, Deborah Gurman Breiter and her husband Don Breiter of Bloomington; one grandson, Loren Gurman of Portland, Ore.; two granddaughters, Whitney Gurman Roberts and her husband Mike Roberts of Terre Haute; and Rachael Gurman Campbell and her husband Josh Campbell of Indianapolis; and one great-grandson, Ryder James Roberts. Other close surviving relatives include a niece, Tanna Srulovitch of Terre Haute; brother and sister-in-law, Berto and Esther Benjaminov; nephews, Adi and Ofer Benjaminov and their families, all of Israel.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Benno, who passed away in January of 2006; as well as by her parents; two brothers, Nissim and Yomtov Zemach; brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Miriam Srulovitch; a daughter, Susan Jane Benjaminov; and a son-in-law, Robert Gurman, of Terre Haute.

Renée was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, on March 15, 1924, to Samuel and Regina Zemach. After first moving to Palestine with her family in 1938, she met her future husband, Benno Benjaminov, also a native of Sofia. Marrying in December, 1948, after the founding of the State of Israel, Renee and Benno soon immigrated to the United States, first living in Kansas, where Renée received a degree in ceramics at the University of Kansas while Benno received his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry.

The Benjaminovs continued studying and teaching at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, at the Weizmann Institute in Israel, the University of Massachusetts, Rockford College and Alliance College.

In 1959 Renée and Benno arrived in Terre Haute, where Benno accepted a professorship at Rose-Hulman. For over 50 years the Benjaminovs were active leaders in the Terre Haute academic and music worlds, as well as at the United Hebrew Congregation. Renée was a long-time member of the Alliance for the Sheldon Swope Art Museum. After teaching French to young students, Renée returned to school at St. Mary-of-the-Woods to receive a Masters in Special Education.

Renée will be fondly remembered for her generous and loving spirit and her dedication to her children and grandchildren. Open arms to all, a stranger to none, the Benjaminovs frequently hosted foreign students and young people, adding to an extended network of family and friends worldwide. A fabulously innovative cook, Renée preferred experimentation to recipes. A gifted linguist, Renée delighted in recalling her many “native” languages, including Bulgarian, French, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Hebrew and Ladino.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, at Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 South 25th Street, with Rabbi Eric Mollo officiating. Visitation will precede the services, starting at 1 p.m., at the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Lawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to United Hebrew Congregation, 540 S. Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Obituaries

Death notice: May 26, 2012
Death Notice

May 26, 2012
Corey John Creason
Corey John Creason, 27, of Terre Haute, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at 10:22 a.m.

May 26, 2012 1 Photo
Bonnie R. Marcinko
Bonnie R. Marcinko, 84, passed away May 23, 2012, at Union Hospital.

May 26, 2012 1 Photo
Dorothy Ray Andrews Tipton
Dorothy Ray Andrews Tipton passed away on May 15, 2012, in Bloomington, Ind. Mrs. Tipton was born in 1925, in Indianapolis, to Frederick B. Ray and Eleanor Perry Ray.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Cecelia Eck Scott
Cecelia Eck Scott, 82, of Terre Haute died early Thursday morning, May 24, 2012 in Union Hospital. She was born March 10, 1930 in New York, New York to George and Lois Eck.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Corey John Creason
Corey John Creason, 27, of Terre Haute, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at 10:22 a.m. He was born in Terre Haute, on July 11, 1984, to Geoff Creason and Sally French Creason.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Death Notice: May 25, 2012
May 25, 2012
Raeanna Jean Cheesman Pitts Johnson
Raeanna Jean Cheesman Pitts Johnson, 67, of Terre Haute, passed away at 11:11 a.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2012, in Union Hospital. She was born July 26, 1944, in Terre Haute, to Russell Cheesman Sr. and Virginia Roth Gordon Cheesman.

May 25, 2012
Elizabeth ‘Beth’ A. Smith
Elizabeth “Beth” A. Smith, 63, of Terre Haute died Tuesday evening, May 22, 2012 in Union Hospital. She was a Marketing Officer for First Financial Bank. She was born July 24, 1948 in Terre Haute to Adolph E. “Monk” Smith and Mary Elizabeth Blood Smith.

May 25, 2012
Bonnie R. Marcinko
Bonnie R. Marcinko passed away May 23, 2012 at Union Hospital. She was born January 3, 1928, in Brazil to John Beaman and Inez McCullough.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
More Obituaries Headlines

Obituaries

Search Results

Related Photos

Guestbook

Renée Benjaminov

Site Map

Contact Us