James Bennett

[aphillips]

A friend of mine took his own life in the Colma/Daily City area on Saturday 1/17/09. Did you guys print a story or do an obituary?

[Jeremy]

aphillips wrote:

A friend of mine took his own life in the Colma/Daily City area on Saturday 1/17/09. Did you guys print a story or do an obituary?

Is your post about James Bennett? I was a friend of his from when he lived in Houston and looking to find out more information about what he had been up to since leaving San Diego. I would like to hear anything you know about what he had been up to in the past few years. [e-mail]

[Anon]

I received the following email about James recently.(My email was on the distribution list.) I only met him briefly, and I did not know him well. I hope it helps.

As many have already learned, a valuable member of our team, James Bennett, passed away on January 17, 2009. Through his years here at Genentech, he touched many people across multiple departments and the loss undoubtedly will be felt throughout all our organizations. James consistently told many that he loved his job and all those he worked with here at Genentech.

Following his service in the Marine Corps and work with a contracting firm in San Diego, James moved to the Bay Area and joined Genentech in 2003. He quickly established himself as the ‘go-to’ guy within the group. His meticulous organization, incredible knowledge of cGMP facilities and his ability to drive results remain the envy of many. His attention to detail was second to none. James had the uncanny ability to always have one of his many ‘binders’ in hand that contained the answer to your exact question. Not only that, he knew the exact page the answer was on. James was heavily relied on by many and without his dedication many projects would have suffered to meet goals; most notably of late was his significant contribution to the B3BX SSCM expansion project.

Outside of work James was heavily active in many organizations including the ISPE, Green Acres Bay Area Chapter, Habitat for Humanity and the Glide Memorial Church Foundation. More recently, he was commissioned as a volunteer Fireman with the Colma Fire Department an accomplishment that he was extremely proud of. He was an avid surfer and loved the Friday beverage with his teams. It’s been rumored that he routinely took Friday afternoon skateboarding strolls through the vacant halls Building 1 (although this can neither be confirmed nor denied).

James always gave you his time and always asked to help you more. He was a truly special person and we should all feel blessed to have had our time with him. James was a mentor to many and a friend to us all.

[Shane D Mitchell]

Hello,
(Hi April Phillips..please call me)

I fell upon this posting just now.

My name is Shane Mitchell, I've been James Bennett's manager at Genentech for the last 3+ years.

I wrote the written tribute message noted below and sent it out to all those he touched that I was aware of- although I quite aware that there are so many more both in and outside of the Genentech community that were missed in my message distribution.

I (many) attended his services last night...great turnout as expected His mother read a copy of the memo below and asked for her own personal copy, I was extremely taken back.

For all of us that knew Mr. James M Bennett, I express my most deepest condolences and support.

I again feel lucky to have stumbled on this...I've just bookmarked.

Much Luv...and God Bless James.

Shane Mitchell

A Bennett friend 1st and manager 2nd

[Desiree Albano]

James was not only a friend, but a a past co-worker. I heard about his passing today. Can you tell us what happened. He was always so happy and full of life, plus he was a great dancer too!
Much love to James.

[Shane D Mitchell]

Happy and full of life he definitely was...I never danced with him, but he did light up our day...everyday.

[Bill Dwyer]

James has been a close friend of mine since 1996, when we both began our freshman year at the University of Houston School of Architecture. He was an amazing student who made the deans list twice. His dedication was envied by all. He had the many binders Anon spoke about in school as well. We were inseparable for the five years of all nighters, and trips to the park to blow off steam. His energy level was always above and beyond anyone I knew. As and avid cyclist he would ride his bike 20 miles to and from school at any time of day through the most unsavory parts or Houston. He was loved by all who attended college with him.

After his move to San Diego our visits were reduced to holidays when he came to visit his family in Friendswood TX., countless emails, and phone calls. His love for California began when he was a Marine stationed in San Diego. This beautiful city was shown to me when I visited him with my wife the year after we graduated. Family was the only thing holding me back from following him out there. I’m sure he touched hundreds of people in California as he did here in the Houston area.

I loved the man like a brother. His suicide was a complete shock to me, and all of his friends here in Houston. He had apparently been dealing with bouts of deep depression all his life. As the strong man he was he never showed this side of himself to me. There will always be a space in my heart for the love I have for my dear friend James. Rest in peace my friend. I will miss you and love you forever.

Your Friend Always,
Bill

[anon]

I love him, too! he was one of the best guys I have ever met - just outstanding!

Bill Dwyer wrote:

James has been a close friend of mine since 1996, when we both began our freshman year at the University of Houston School of Architecture. He was an amazing student who made the deans list twice. His dedication was envied by all. He had the many binders Anon spoke about in school as well. We were inseparable for the five years of all nighters, and trips to the park to blow off steam. His energy level was always above and beyond anyone I knew. As and avid cyclist he would ride his bike 20 miles to and from school at any time of day through the most unsavory parts or Houston. He was loved by all who attended college with him.
After his move to San Diego our visits were reduced to holidays when he came to visit his family in Friendswood TX., countless emails, and phone calls. His love for California began when he was a Marine stationed in San Diego. This beautiful city was shown to me when I visited him with my wife the year after we graduated. Family was the only thing holding me back from following him out there. I’m sure he touched hundreds of people in California as he did here in the Houston area.
I loved the man like a brother. His suicide was a complete shock to me, and all of his friends here in Houston. He had apparently been dealing with bouts of deep depression all his life. As the strong man he was he never showed this side of himself to me. There will always be a space in my heart for the love I have for my dear friend James. Rest in peace my friend. I will miss you and love you forever.
Your Friend Always,
Bill

[Jeremy]

I have to share a little bit about what being fortunate enough to know James meant to me. I met him while in Houston, thought biking. Just like what was previously said, he would bike 20 miles one-way just to get to school, and then 20 miles the other way to work. I was in awe of how strong he was as a biker and knew that if he had the time to race, he could have been competitive on an expert level. For him, biking was just another aspect of his multi-faceted existence.

Unlike anyone I have ever met, there was never a time when I didn’t find him in a good mood or trying to do something positive for others. That is what amazed me the most since I have never met anyone like him in this respect. I will always try to be more like he was for the people he met in his life. The best example I can think of is him doing his bike commute home from school at night stopping by a convenience store for a drink. If there was a homeless person outside who looked thirsty he would buy a second drink and offer it to that person. Or if it was cold outside and James had a second shirt in his bag he would offer it to that person. James was always so helpful to anyone and everyone that was fortunate to cross his path. I have never met anyone that simply wanted to share good faith in the world like he did.

I also remember one time when he had purchased this old, clunky tandem bike as a wedding gift for some friends that were also in our biking circle. He had just picked the bike up ,which he later fixed up, and we had met up with while biking ourselves. On his way home, James rode with us through this park where the serious road bikers would do laps on this one-mile loop. James being a strong biker and as fun-loving as he was, caught up with this pack of serious road bikers to ride with them for a lap. It was them, and James in his causal clothes, riding solo on this 60s-70s clunky tandem bike. We had such a laugh watching him keep up with them. He was not doing it to make fun of them, just simply because it was such a funny/ironic thing to do.

The last time I had a chance to really spend time with James was in 2001 when I visited him for a week while he was living in San Diego. There are people in my life that I have known longer, but no one has been as generous a friend or host as he was when I stayed with him that week. It was one of the most memorable trips I ever had. I know that I thanked him, but I fear that he didn’t know how much that experience will always mean to me.

[Ulrike]

Thank you Jeremy: Your share and the other shares are another proof to my own experience that James was the most amazing person that I ever had the privilege to work with and to spent time with. I so hope that he is happy, joyful and free now!!!!!!

Jeremy wrote:

I have to share a little bit about what being fortunate enough to know James meant to me. I met him while in Houston, thought biking. Just like what was previously said, he would bike 20 miles one-way just to get to school, and then 20 miles the other way to work. I was in awe of how strong he was as a biker and knew that if he had the time to race, he could have been competitive on an expert level. For him, biking was just another aspect of his multi-faceted existence.
Unlike anyone I have ever met, there was never a time when I didn’t find him in a good mood or trying to do something positive for others. That is what amazed me the most since I have never met anyone like him in this respect. I will always try to be more like he was for the people he met in his life. The best example I can think of is him doing his bike commute home from school at night stopping by a convenience store for a drink. If there was a homeless person outside who looked thirsty he would buy a second drink and offer it to that person. Or if it was cold outside and James had a second shirt in his bag he would offer it to that person. James was always so helpful to anyone and everyone that was fortunate to cross his path. I have never met anyone that simply wanted to share good faith in the world like he did.
I also remember one time when he had purchased this old, clunky tandem bike as a wedding gift for some friends that were also in our biking circle. He had just picked the bike up ,which he later fixed up, and we had met up with while biking ourselves. On his way home, James rode with us through this park where the serious road bikers would do laps on this one-mile loop. James being a strong biker and as fun-loving as he was, caught up with this pack of serious road bikers to ride with them for a lap. It was them, and James in his causal clothes, riding solo on this 60s-70s clunky tandem bike. We had such a laugh watching him keep up with them. He was not doing it to make fun of them, just simply because it was such a funny/ironic thing to do.
The last time I had a chance to really spend time with James was in 2001 when I visited him for a week while he was living in San Diego. There are people in my life that I have known longer, but no one has been as generous a friend or host as he was when I stayed with him that week. It was one of the most memorable trips I ever had. I know that I thanked him, but I fear that he didn’t know how much that experience will always mean to me.

[aphillips]

Something reminded me of James this morning and it was comforting to go back and review all of the great things said about James. I hope that others continue to post their thought of James, it helps me to remember who he really was

[Bill Dwyer]

My family and I are heading to San Fran to visit James's sister and brother-in-law this Friday. We are driving from Texas, and stopping at a bunch of places on the way, so it we won't be there until next Friday. We had planned on coming to visit James, Deb, and Dustin in the next couple of years, but we felt like after his passing we should do it now rather than later. I'm sure James would have loved a road trip like this. Just the thought of the trip is bringing up all the great memories I have of James, and I really wish he was going to be there. Damn I miss that guy!