Dr. John Edward Benhart

John Edward (Jack) Benhart, 83, passed away on June 30, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jack was a loving husband, a beloved father and grandfather, a respected scholar and teacher, and a community volunteer. Although he achieved much professionally, his greatest accomplishment was his family -- his marriage of 60 years to his wife Patricia, his three children (Cristen, Bobby and John), and his five grandchildren. He was a man who dedicated his life to taking care of his family, educating others and building community, and living up to his responsibilities as evidenced by the rich and loving relationships he had with his children and grandchildren, the thousands of students he taught who appreciated his mentorship and pursued successful careers, and his dedication to his communities through his service on planning commissions, coaching youth sports, and non-profit fundraising. Jack was a man of faith, a lifelong Catholic, and a member of the Our Lady of the Visitation parish in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania for over 55 years. He was a native of western Pennsylvania who lived and died with the Pirates and Steelers and was immensely proud of his Pittsburgh roots and his upbringing in a closeknit household of seven women after the passing of his father.

Jack was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 30, 1942. One of the defining aspects of his life was that his father died before he was born in an industrial accident and he was raised by a single mother and a large extended family in south Pittsburgh. As a young man he was an accomplished basketball player and was named the Pittsburgh Catholic League’s Player of the Year in 1960, earning a basketball scholarship to the University of Arizona and later being recognized with Little All-America honors after a transfer to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Upon graduation from IUP, he earned a Department of Defense scholarship to attend graduate school at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where he graduated with his PhD in Geography in 1972. He taught in the Geography-Earth Science Department at Shippensburg University for 37 years, serving as department chair for 33 years, and retired in 2005. He was an accomplished scholar (he had over 100 publications and academic presentations) who was also an amazing and memorable teacher for students in classroom. The students who had him for class, and the kids he coached remember him for his caring spirit, his sense of humor, and his uncanny way of helping them learn about different parts of the world or how to shoot a bank shot.

Jack is survived by his spouse of 60 years Patricia, his children John Jr. (wife Jacque Benhart) and Cristen (husband Peter Breski), and his grandchildren Ozzie (husband Jozef), Haley (husband Sam), John Edward IV (Jake), Lauren, and Peter. He was preceded in death by his son Robert Francis Benhart, his mother Anne Marie Brandtone Benhart Wilk, his father John Edward Benhart, and his stepfather Anthony Wilk.

Jack grew up in and around the City of Pittsburgh, and throughout his life he talked to people and created friendships and community like he was in his old neighborhood. He had an outgoing personality and a great sense of humor. He loved to talk to people and find out where they were from, why they were doing what they were doing, and what they were interested in. He loved basketball and all sports and taught his children and generations of kids in the Shippensburg area and beyond how to play basketball and baseball. As a university faculty member at Shippensburg University, he was known as dedicated professor who never cancelled class or took a sick day, who loved teaching and who cared greatly for his students, and as a leader who had vision and could build consensus to get big things done. During his tenure at Shippensburg University, Jack served as a faculty member in the Geography-Earth Sciences Department, chair of the Geography-Earth Sciences Department, interim Dean of Arts and Sciences and interim Dean of Admissions. To this day, his former students make a point of telling his children how much of a positive impact Dr. Benhart had on their lives and careers. Jack served as chair of the Geography-Earth Science Department at Shippensburg University from 1972 until 2005, and he worked with his colleagues to build one of the largest Geography departments in terms of student majors and one of the best in quality in the US during his career.

Jack loved his wife, children and grandchildren and built his life around faith, family, hard work, and fun. Although he worked very hard and received a great deal of professional recognition, he always put his family first and made sure that he was there when he was needed most and for all of the fun times and celebrations.

Friends and family are invited to gather and share memories at Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc., 112 West King Street Shippensburg, PA on Tuesday July 7, 2026 from 6 to 8PM. A Funeral Mass will be held the following morning (Wednesday July 8) at 11AM at Our Lady of the Visitation Church, 305 N. Prince Street Shippensburg, PA, with interment to follow at Spring Hill Cemetery.

A celebration of life luncheon will be held at the Shippensburg University Conference Center, 500 Newburg Road Shippensburg, PA following the burial from 12-3PM — all are welcome. Those who would like to RSVP to attend the luncheon can use this link: https://benhart-luncheon.pages.dev.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Jack's memory to consider a contribution to the Robert Francis "Bobby" Benhart Memorial Scholarship at Shippensburg University, a cause close to his heart. Donations can be made online at tinyurl.com/SUFBenhartScholarship. Checks made payable to the SU Foundation can be mailed to: Shippensburg University Foundation/Benhart Scholarship, 500 Newburg Road, Shippensburg, PA 17257.