Ronald Bennett passed away this week at the age of 88 after a long illness. He was a dedicated music educator, composer, and arts advocate who helped create a cultural community to be proud of here in Odessa.
He believed strongly in the promise and potential of Odessa. He would often say, “You never know what good thing will come out of Odessa!”
Because of “Mr. Bennett” and his colleagues, our town remains a surprisingly robust place of the arts. At a time when arts support is desperately needed, we miss Ronald’s voice already. So, here is what Mr. Bennett would want us to do right now: Turn to your nearest neighbor and tell them 5 good things!
Ronald’s greeting was almost always this quick litany of gratitude. Let’s use his exercise for our community, right now, in his honor and memory:
1. Thanks to our community passing the bond, the Ector County Independent School District is about to construct wonderful new facilities which include renovated and new facilities for arts!
2. Our current season is full of arts opportunities from the Wagner Noël to the local churches.
3. Our local library is thriving and offering new programming and access to the arts!
4. Odessa continues to grow professional musicians, including (humble mom brag) our own son, a student of Mr. Bennett, who is in school at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
5. We were blessed with the gift of Ronald Bennett, for six decades here, to be a catalyst for more to come.
Thanks be to God!
