Robert Reed Benedetti

Robert (Bob) Reed Benedetti passed away on February 26, 2026. Born in San Francisco, Bob grew up in the Bay Area and attended Palo Alto High School. He went on to Amherst College, where he majored in English and Political Science. After graduation, he spent a year at Union Theological Seminary in New York before earning his Master’s and PhD in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania.

Bob devoted his career to teaching undergraduates in political science. He began as a tutor at New College of Sarasota, Florida, eventually serving as Provost of the College, where a highlight of his tenure was teaching in Florence, Italy. He later became Dean of the College of the Pacific at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, where he took special pride in working with faculty to implement a new general education curriculum. In later years, he founded and directed the Jacoby Center for Public Service and Civic Leadership. During retirement, he remained intellectually engaged as an active participant in the Sacramento State Renaissance Society Program, teaching classes on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, political parties, and the Constitution. He also edited the book *Imagining the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta*, which explored the region’s heritage and culture. A lifelong supporter of the humanities, he volunteered on numerous projects with his Amherst alumni group.

Above all, Bob cherished time with his family and many friends. His love for them was infectious; he was always teaching them new things, caring for them in times of need, and making holidays special. He will be remembered for his caring heart, his steadfast morality, and his remarkable ability to let everyone around him shine.

Bob is survived by his wife of 58 years, Susan, his daughter Beth, his sister Linda Spady (Mark, Matthew, and Megan, Mike and Molly) and his sister-in-law Laurie Considine (Duncan, Sean and Rachelle, Jessica) and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Laurel.