Olger Florencio Benavides

Olger Florencio Benavides Villagomez, born to Cesar Augusto Benavides Perez and Julia Constantina Villagomez Zelarayan, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2026, at the age of 1:25 a.m., surrounded by his family after a courageous two-year-and-eight-month battle with cancer. Though initially given a prognosis of twelve months or less, Olger defied expectations and embraced the additional time with strength and gratitude, often saying he felt strong enough for another ten years. Deeply rooted in a family lineage known for longevity, he carried the same resilience that defined so many of his relatives.

From a young age, Olger demonstrated remarkable strength, persistence, and a profound sense of responsibility. As the eldest son in a family of seven siblings, he began working at sixteen during school breaks, helping sell cattle in his hometown of Charcana in southern Peru. When his father became ill and required treatment in Lima, Olger and his sister Nancy stepped forward to support the family. He took over the cattle business, providing for his large family with selflessness and determination. One of his most remarkable feats was driving thirty cattle on foot from Charcana to Lima—a 720-mile journey that took two months—then using the proceeds with his father to purchase a home in Callao for the entire family. They later invested in a fine ceramics factory, where Olger continued to work with the same dedication.

It was at the ceramics factory that Olger met the love of his life, Martha Cristina Iturregui Ostolaza, affectionately known as “Pocha.” They married in 1964 and welcomed their first child, daughter Elsie. Soon after, Olger immigrated to Washington, D.C., seeking better opportunities for his growing family. He and Pocha later had two sons, Cesar and Olger Luis (Coco). Their home became a beloved gathering place for family and friends, filled with Pocha’s Peruvian cooking, dancing, laughter, and Olger’s homemade Chuchuhuasi. He worked at the Washington Hilton for 45 years, retiring at age 75, where colleagues admired his work ethic and his willingness to teach others. Like his father, a teacher in Charcana, Olger was known for sharing heartfelt life lessons, often delivering powerful, memorable speeches at family gatherings as the family’s true patriarch.

In 1999, Olger’s beloved Pocha passed away at age 56 from cancer. He later shared 19 happy years with his second wife, Encarnacion “Enky,” traveling together to Greece, Niagara Falls, the Bahamas, Venice, Rome, Rioja, Peru, and many other places. He cherished family traditions—camping, cooking Thanksgiving turkey, making Peruvian hot chocolate at Christmas, and playing sapo. Olger was deeply loved and respected by all who knew him for his honor, honesty, humility, kindness, and especially his strong sense of justice. He welcomed everyone with an open heart, a warm smile, and often a drink in hand, even in his final days.

Olger leaves behind his wife Encarnacion, his children Elsie, Cesar, and Olger Luis, his grandchildren, and many extended family members and friends who will feel his absence deeply. He is now at rest with his parents, his beloved Pocha, and other dear relatives who preceded him.