Jeffrey Benton Bender

KJEFFREY "JEFF" BENTON BENDER Jeff Bender of Gaithersburg, Maryland passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the age of 80. Jeff was born December 8, 1945 to Cornelia Calver Bender [Ladd] and Dr. Merrill A. Bender in Chelsea, Massachusetts. They later moved to Maryland where he lived for most of his life. Jeff was a child of Montgomery County and slow pitch softball. After graduating Richard Montgomery High School in 1964, he founded and managed his first men's softball team. Throughout the 1970's, 1980's, and early 1990's he managed teams in the Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Fairfax County leagues. After Jeff turned 50 in 1995, he joined a men's softball league for seniors (MCSSA 50+), and later formed his own team named "The Blue & Gold," his favorite colors. Jeff was the eldest of his siblings, so he organized all sorts of activities for the three younger ones. In 1960 he even created an Olympics for them and the neighborhood kids! As an adult, he loved to create and organize games like Name That Tune and Jeopardy for family and friends. Jeff's love of music inspired him to sing in Glee Club, a Madrigal group, and church choir as well as to DJ in his college years, and to accumulate a huge collection of 45's, LP albums, and CD's. He created many a holiday music CD for family gatherings. His other love was movies. He had quite the collection of movies too and jumped at any opportunity to share them at a movie night or afternoon. As a very detail-oriented person and good with math and statistics, Jeff earned an AA in computer science from Montgomery College and worked in IT for 32 years, 25 of them with Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC). During that time he worked with five different government agencies as a Programmer, Analyst, Sub System Manager, and Configuration Manager. He was proudest of his 15-year assignment with the Federal Black Lung Program. He retired from CSC in 2008. Jeff was a lifelong Unitarian and was a member of the Sugarloaf Congregation of Unitarian Universalists (SCUU). There he shared his passion for music as Music Director and member of the choir. His dedication enriched the community and brought the people together through song. For many years, he managed the event software for SCUU's annual auction. He delighted participants by offering Game Nights and Movie Nights for bidding. He also served on the Board of Trustees the past two years where his insight and commitment were greatly appreciated. Jeff often teased himself as being a Pollyanna - a person characterized by irrepressible optimism and a tendency to find good in everything - but that's exactly what led to his kind presence and sweet smile. His generous spirit, deep desire to help others, and that ability to stay in good spirits will be missed. Jeff is survived by his wife Sylvia Craig; sisters Dana Belgrave Belcher and Julia B. Bender; brothers Merrill Scott Bender and James Y. Bender; and nephew Michal Scott Belgrave (wife Marie & children Colin and Cora). He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Michael Scott Bender, and sister Deborah Merrill Bender.