Richard Michael Benigni was born on December 3, 1954, and died at home on March 24, 2024. A very aggressive lung cancer had been diagnosed in November of the previous year.

Rich grew up in Joliet, Illinois with his parents, Richard and Betty (Bell) Benigni, and three sisters. He reminisced most about Sunday dinners, family holiday gatherings, camping at the Wilmington Recreation Club in the summer, walking to the Avon Inn from school for lunch, and much mischief with his neighborhood buddies throughout high school.

He had a long career as a chef. Upon transfer to the Champaign, Illinois Howard Johnson's in 1975, he met his future wife, Mary Sue (Bertrand) Benigni, who was working as a cook during summer school. They married in 1977, then raised their two sons Jason and Adam. They also helped raise their neice, Jennifer Wilcher. They continued as life partners for 46 years.

Rich was polite to a fault and very charming. He loved sports, especially pro football and college basketball. He had a personal vendetta against modern packaging.

Rich had endless energy and worked harder than most people. Family gatherings were always extra delicious because he was in charge of the menu. He was usually out in the yard fussing over the bushes and keeping the grass trimmed to a specified height. He broke his tools regularly and conned his brothers-in-law into fixing them.

His most favorite thing was being Grampa to Elijah, Archer, and Blair. He is survived by them and his wife Mary Sue, his son Adam, and daughters-in-law Christen (Cooper) Benigni and Brooke (Zickert) Benigni. His son Jason was waiting for him, having passed in April of 2023.  Also welcoming him would have been his parents and their siblings, his sisters-in-law Angie Pfeffer and Peg Bertrand, and his in-laws, Betty and Vern Bertrand.

Additionally, he is survived by his sisters Mary Beth (Benigni) Rager (husband Ron), Sue (Benigni) Cippolle (husband Bob), and Benita Benigni (wife Sue Yasko).

He will be terribly missed by all the in-laws and outlaws of Mary Sue's family.

A celebration and burial will be held at a later date.