Carol Benfield
She was born in Eugene, but Carol Benfield grew up in
Merritt, BC. After high school she came back to Oregon,
worked for a while in Eugene and Madras, then joined the
army. She met her husband Roger in Panama, where they both
worked as meteorological observers on research projects. "It
was a great job," she says. "But they made those positions
civilian and we lost them." The pair left the army and moved
to Eugene, where both took the postal service exam. "After a
year-and-a-half they called us," says Benfield, who has by
now walked the same route, south of the University, for 20
years. "It's a second family for me," she says."I see the
kids grow up and go off to college. I definitely know the
cats and dogs. I love them all." Dog lovers at home as well,
she and Roger share evening outings with Deja Vue and
Diablo. Benfield estimates she knows 100 dogs and an equal
number of cats. "Carol is one of the strongest community
builders I have met," says neighbor Camilla Mortensen. "She
engages with everyone she meets. She knows everyone by name,
knows every pet by name."
happening people
photograph and story by Paul Neevel
Eugene Weekly / 26 April 2007
|
|
archive
contact