Michelle Trachtenberg
Oct 10, 1985 - Feb 25, 2025
Manhattan, IL
In Memory of Michelle Trachtenberg
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Robert Benton
Sep 28, 1932 - May 10, 2025
Manhattan, IL
The three-time Oscar-winning director and screenwriter Robert Benton passed away at the age of 92. Born in Waxahachie, Texas, Robert Douglas Benton received a BFA at the University of Texas. Later, he earned his master's degree at Columbia University with the aim of becoming a painter. Though the legendary director tried to support himself as a cartoonist, that did not work well for him. This led him to land a job as an assistant to the art director at Esquire. In 1954, Benton was drafted and painted dioramas at Fort Bliss during his stint in the Army. Soon after, he got back at Esquire and served as their magazine's art director from 1958 to 1964. The same year, in 1964, he got married to Sallie Rendig, a fellow artist who illustrated his children's book "Little Brother No More." During his time as an art director, he partnered up with David Newman, a fellow Esquire alumnus. Together, the dynamic duo penned down the award-winning film, titled, "Bonnie and Clyde," in 1967, which was the cornerstone of both their careers. In 1995, Robert was honored by the Writers Guild of America with its Ian McLellan Hunter Award for lifetime achievement in writing. In 2007, he was awarded the Laurel Award for his brilliant screenwriting. Sallie passed away in 2023, and now their son, John, survives them and misses them dearly.
