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GREENWICH, Conn. Dr. Daniel Benninghoff, a longtime director of pathology at Greenwich Hospital, died Wednesday at his home in Greenwich of pancreatic cancer. He was 86.
He was born Dec. 17, 1924, in Fort Wayne, Ind., to Dr. Daniel R. and Marie McMullen Benninghoff. He was valedictorian of his class in high school and graduated from Yale University in 1949. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II in the medical department, ending as a technician with a general hospital on Iwo Jima. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his service.
Benninghoff received his medical degree in 1953 from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He interned at New York Hospital and did his residency in pathology at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York and Mary Fletcher Hospital in Vermont. He became an assistant professor of pathology in 1958 at Columbia. He joined Greenwich Hospital in 1962 and served as the director of pathology until his retirement in 1990.
After retiring, Benninghoff continued part-time services in area hospitals and maintained a private laboratory.
In Greenwich, he was a member of the American Red Cross Board of Directors and served as chairman of the medical advisory committee to the Greenwich Health Association. He was also a member of Innis Arden Golf Club for more than 15 years.
Benninghoff is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jeanne Shea; son Dan Jr. and wife Alysia of Weston; daughter Susan and husband Sam Bettwy of San Diego; son Paul and wife Kathleen McCleary of Falls Church, Va.; son David and wife Kelly Lefebvre of Seattle; and eight grandchildren, as well as his brother, Dr. David Benninghoff of Huntington, N.Y.
Services were held Monday, July 18, at St. Mary's Church in Greenwich. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Autism Speaks.
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