Page 4 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, November 14, 2025 THE BENNETTS: A fitting memorial christened at Bell Rock Park ‘Mac’ and Rita Bennett led one of the ‘First Families’ of the Bell Rock neighborhood for over 70 years By Steve Freker H is eldest daughter Ann Marie had just finished some brief, heartfelt words of remembrance for her late parents. Letting go of a few tears just as the clock struck noontime on this cold and blustery, overcast Tuesday, she ended a thought, “...and that was Mac.” Then, as if on cue, a blast of sunshine appeared and in an instant, the rays brightened the tinge of the sky and the mood of the gathering. “There’s Mac!” someone said. Many chuckled, and everyone smiled. “That’s just how they would have wanted it today,” said another member of the group, referring to the guests of honor, Malden M a yor G ar y Christenson, who grew up a neighbor of the Bennetts, addresses the gathering for the dedication of the memorial bench. (Advocate Photo) the late Mac and Rita Bennett, “all of us smiling.” All the Bennett family members and friends — several generations in all — gathered at Bell Rock Park to dedicate a memorial bench in honor of the late Mac and Rita Bennett. (Advocate Photo) One of the best-known — and well-liked — “old-school” Malden families came together on Tuesday at Bell Rock Park to The children of the late Mac and Rita Bennett and Malden city officials were the first to sit and gather around the memorial bench placed at Bell Rock Park on Tuesday in their parents’ honor. Seated at left is Ann Marie Tilley; at right is Kathleen O’Keefe; standing, from left to right, are Ward 1 Councillor Peg Crowe, Kevin Bennett, Colleen Chiccuarelli, Barbara Bennett, Chris Bennett and Mayor Gary Christenson. (Advocate Photo) christen a memorial to Malcolm “Mac” Bennett and Rita (O’Neil) Bennett. Malden Ward 1 Councillor Peg Crowe led the planning for the memorial, as a longtime friend of the Bennett family, and was on hand for Tuesday’s event, as was Mayor Gary Christenson. Both city officials are lifelong Bell Rock neighborhood residents. All of Mac and Rita’s six children were there, along with lots of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, in-laws, other relatives and plenty of friends. Mac and Rita were the parents of Ann Marie Tilley of Malden, Kathleen O’Keefe of Oakham, Mass., Barbara Bennett of Arlington, Colleen Chiccuarelli of Malden, Kevin Bennett of North Reading and Chris Bennett of Wakefield. The dedication Tuesday was for a memorial bench with a plaque emblazoned with the simple words: “In memory of Malcolm ‘Mac’ and Rita Bennett”. Over 47 Years of Excellence! 1978 - 2025 Mid-grade Regular 2.78 3.37 3.53 $3.54 Full Service ULS $2.99 Order online at angelosoil.com A memorial bench in honor of the late Malcolm “Mac” and Rita (O’Neil) Bennett now sits in Bell Rock Park. (Advocate Photo) Kevin Bennett says a few words about his late parents as Mayor Christenson (at left) listens. (Advocate Photo) Kerosene Now Available! Some of the best words that could be said of the two leaders of the leaders of the large Bennett “tribe” were said of Mac and Rita on Tuesday. “[Mac] was a good guy, a great guy,” said Malden Veterans’ Services Officer Kevin Jarvis, who spoke briefly Tuesday. “He was friends with my dad and I would say friends with mostly everyone else he ever met in Malden. He left a lasting legacy in this community.” Tuesday was an especially fitting day to honor Mac Bennett and his wife. Rita passed away in December of 2011, marking 60 years of marriage earlier that very year. It was exactly three years to the day, November 11, 2022, that Mac Bennett left us, at 96 years, on Veterans Day. Mayor Christenson, who delivered some remarks at the event, was a firsthand witness to the impact Mac and Rita Bennett had on the Bell Rock neighborhood, having grown up right around the corner from the Bennett homestead. “Mac took his military service and the service of others very seriously and with great pride,” the Mayor recalled, noting Mac was both a World War II U.S. Coast Guard veteran and later, a longtime and very active member of the Malden Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post #639. Mac served as VFW Post Commander on several occasions. “While everyone agreed that Mac wore his heart on his sleeve, he also showed his passion in other ways,” Mayor Christenson said, “when, for many years, his license plate read VFW 639.” Mac led a varied work life, which probably led to him “knowing and befriending so many of us in Malden,” according to the Mayor, who recalled the Bennett patriarch first working for the City of Malden in Forest Dale Cemetery, then for a few years as a Malden Police patrolman and then for over three decades as a Malden Firefighter. “He spent many years in a leadTHE BENNETTS | SEE PAGE 15 FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES!
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