Ben was born and raised in Victoria. He attended Margaret Jenkins Elementary School and Victoria High School. In 1942, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the RCAF. Stationed in England, he piloted 32 missions in Halifax bombers over Germany and occupied France during WW2 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his “utmost courage and devotion to duty”.
Following the war, Ben attended UBC where he received a B.Comm. degree. Shortly thereafter, he married Barbara Smith, a romance that started in Grade 3. After a short stint in Port Alberni, Ben returned to Victoria and made the life-changing decision to become an architect. With a wife and young children, he took the unconventional path of correspondence courses and challenging the Architectural Institute of BC courses, all while working as a draftsman. During this period, he hand-built his house in Cordova Bay, the home he lived in for 65 years. As a partner in the firm, Peterson + Lester Architects, Ben designed numerous buildings in Victoria and beyond including Spectrum Community School, Victoria Coast Guard Base and the Saunders Building at UVic.
Ben enjoyed the outdoors. He was an avid hiker and, in later life, walker with his dog(s). He hiked the West Coast Trail several times, spent numerous summers in Strathcona Park where he scaled Golden Hinde, Rambler Peak and others.
Ben had many other interests including Opera, Cosmology, Plate Tectonics, Blue Jays and the Mariners, history and crossword puzzles (while totally blind, he regularly did the Sunday puzzles with his family reading the clues). Ben was a lifelong learner and maintained an interest in current events, politics, and advances in science.
Ben had a wonderful marriage which lasted more than 60 years until Barbara’s passing in 2008. He was a good father and was very proud of his children: Eric (Christina), Chris (Linda), Jill (Doug Kot), and Bo (Deise), as he was of his grandchildren: Shannon Kot, Steve Kot (Megan), and Lauren Peterson.
Above all, Ben had a positive attitude. In spite of blindness in later life, he always displayed confidence in the future and never felt sorry for himself. A model to live by.
A Celebration of Ben’s Life will be held at a later date.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
-
Lorraine Stuart
-
Sheila Davies I was the office in Wade & Stockdill in the 1950s and remember Ben well. He was a little older than the rest of us and he was married with children. His drafting board was back in a corner where he watched us with amusement. An English architect worked in the office for a few months. He had a very British name. Ben said “whatta name. He’s a nice guy but whatta name.” It was such a Ben comment, laughing but kindly. I remember going to the completion of the house party in Cordova bay with Whatta Name.
Many years passed. A time came when my husband and I retired and planned to leave San Francisco and live in my parents’ house in Cadboro Bay. I wanted Ben’s level head to draw up plans. Unfortunately for us, at that time Ben and Alan Lester were very involved with the airport design. I was sorry because I thought that Byron and Ben would “get on like houses on fire.” Reading your beautiful tribute of Ben and his interests I found that Byron and Ben indeed had many interests in common.
Byron died in July 2017 so I know how deeply you miss Ben. Most sincerely Sheila Davies
-
Trish Rorison All the best to the family as you remember a remarkable man and celebrate his life and accomplishments. I know he’ll be missed but he has left a wonderful legacy of a life well-lived.
-
Sunny Dhaliwal My heartfelt condolences to the family. A larger than life figure, a role-model, an inspiration and a very loving father- he surely will leave a big void in the family and for many others who knew him. His life will continue to inspire many of us, even though he has moved into the sunset….May his soul rest in peace!
And so the World War 2 flying ace has flown off to be reunited with the love of his life…