John Benedict was born in Tucson, Arizona. He is a third-generation native Arizonan. He was the youngest of two brothers in his family. As a teen, John dreamed of a career in the cattle business.Although John has never resided beyond Arizona's borders, he has visited ten foreign countries: Mexico, Canada, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas.
Instead of being a cattle baron, John ended up distinguishing himself as a retail banker. During his forty years of service as a banker, John excelled in personifying the "community reinvestment" requirement of banks. He fully understood that in order for a bank to thrive, the community it serves must also thrive. In choosing where to invest his time as a volunteer, he selected programs with the capacity to make a tangible difference in the lives of those served. In 1997, John was awarded the Wells Fargo Volunteer Service Award. Although now retired from banking, his passion for community service still thrives.
John has been married to Jane for forty-seven years. They have two daughters and one grandson. For several years, John and Jane have welcomed Mesa West Rotarians to their home for our annual Spring Olympics.
John says that his favorite vacation memory was a trip their family took to Nice, France in the summer of 1995 where they attended the Rotary International Convention. Following the convention, he and his family traveled through Europe together.
John's most rewarding volunteer experience was the years he served on the boards of the Child Crisis Center - East Valley, Save the Family Foundation of Arizona, and Mesa Senior Centers.