Barbara Martin Bensen, 94, of Damariscotta, died peacefully on Feb. 9. She was born in Hamilton, Ontario, the daughter of Frederick and Alice Martin. She and her two older brothers, Fred and Ross (the three were known as “Frossbar” to their dad), grew up in Hamilton during the Depression, a circumstance made more difficult for them upon the death of their father in 1933. After graduating from McGill University in Montreal she enlisted in the Canadian Air Force, reaching the rank of captain, a fact that caused some amusement in her subsequent family as she outranked her future husband.
Bar met Ben Bensen in the late 1930s at Lake Muskoka in Ontario. World War II slowed but did not derail their courtship and they were married on Jan. 12, 1946. After a few years in both Honolulu and New York, they settled in New Canaan, Conn. where they raised their four children. She worked for a number of years as secretary to the head of Low Heywood (now King Low Heywood Thomas) School in Stamford.
On Ben’s retirement in 1979 they moved to Damariscotta, a community they thoroughly enjoyed and embraced. She volunteered for many years at Miles Hospital where she was a frequent visitor to patients. She and Ben were active members of St. Andrew’s Church. They participated in a number of Elder Hostel and Earthwatch trips, including one to Tasmania where they managed to run into a Newcastle resident. They loved exploring connections between people.
Bar and Ben enjoyed 66 years of married life. They loved each other very much, a fact that was evident to all who knew them. Bar was a loving and supportive mother who also knew when to encourage her children to face up to life’s challenges on their own. An avid reader and lover of music, she was intelligent, energetic, positive and enjoyed a good laugh. She took great pleasure in walking and gardening. She had clear and strong opinions as well as a great interest in knowing and helping others. Bar remained very proud of her Canadian heritage and it didn’t take much prompting for her to share her thoughts on topics ranging from the superiority of the Canadian political system to the travails of her beloved Toronto Maple Leafs.
Bar enthusiastically followed the activities of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandsons. In the two years after Ben died she delighted in surrounding herself with family photographs. She appreciated the many friendships she made in the Damariscotta community.
She is survived by her children, Gary and wife Rosie of Newcastle, Dick and wife Pam of Deerfield, Mass., Alison and husband Philippe Terreaux of Virieu-sur-Bourbre, France, and Tom and wife Susan of Missoula, Mont.; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandsons.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Sat., May 16 at St. Andrew’s Church in Newcastle.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Andrew’s Church, Miles Hospital or Skidompha Public Library.