Then and Now

William M. Benson ‘64 If Bill Benson ‘64’s graduation tile strikes you as especially impressive, you have a keen eye for talent. At Green Vale, he was the first male to win the Brock Art Award at graduation; it had previously been awarded only to girls. He later attended St. Paul’s School and Cornell University, where he earned a BA in Fine Arts. He has been a professional painter in Ithaca ever since (www.wmbenson.com). While the natural beauty of the Finger Lakes region has inspired expressive landscape interpretations, a large portion of his commercial success derives from portraiture.

About 15 years ago, Benson was commissioned to paint the portrait of a former Ithaca College president after the original was stolen. Years later he learned that the late subject, Ellis L. Phillips, was a fellow Green Vale graduate, class of 1932, whose wife had given Benson’s own mother maternity clothes when they both lived in Long Island.

The GVS tile becomes more prescient when considering that sailing remains a passion for Benson. In recent years he has restored a 36-foot wooden sloop by hand and enjoys sailing it with his wife and two sons.

Benson’s portrait of Ellis Phillips, ‘32

Benson’s four siblings also attended Green Vale: Elena (Lanie) Benson Ganzenmuller ‘57, Christine Benson Pell ‘60, Robert Benson ‘64, and David Benson ‘76, in addition to six nieces and nephews

Please raise your hand in support of Green Vale. The 2019-2020 Annual Fund closes June 30.

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