Born and raised in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Ben attended Wyoming (Pa.) Seminary, where he was a debater, on the staffs of the school paper and yearbook, and senior class treasurer. At Princeton he played freshman and varsity lacrosse, was a football manager his freshman year, and served on the Undergraduate Council, the Schools and Scholarships Committee, and the Orange Key Executive Council. He majored in history and took his meals at Quadrangle. In his senior year he roomed with Boyd and McCain.

Following Princeton Ben served in the Pennsylvania National Guard and Air Force Reserve. His late father having been a chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, law seemed a natural path for Ben, and in 1966 he graduated from Temple School of Law. He joined the firm of Silverblatt & Townsend, where he remained as a partner for many years, serving as solicitor for Kingston (Pa.) Township, the Dallas School District, and the Dallas Area Municipal Authority. He taught law at Wilkes University and was a chairman of the United Way of Wyoming Valley.

Ben was survived by his wife of 56 years, Jane; sons Benjamin IV, Dylan, and Tudor; three grandchildren; and his stepbrother, Edward Griffith. He was predeceased by his brother Morgan. We have sent condolences.