John Faber Bennett, Jr, Captain USN Ret, born in Washington, DC on October 18, 1938, passed away at home on June 20, 2026.
John graduated from St. Alban’s School and Yale University. After graduating from Yale he went to OCS. During his naval career he was at the Bay of Pigs on the USS Eaton. When he was an Admiral’s Aide he was at one of the first Mercury shots and met the astronauts. John had two deployments to Vietnam, first as weapons officer on the USS Manley, Charleston, SC, that went through the Panama Canal and returned through the Suez Canal, the second as Commanding Officer of a Minesweeper USS Prime, Long Beach, CA. John was commanding officer of the Thomas C Hart, Norfolk, VA that went on a Med cruise. He was stationed in Norfolk, VA, Newport, RI, Charleston, SC, Long Beach, CA, Holland, Philadelphia, PA, Pentagon and Hawaii. Upon retiring from the Navy, he went to Temple University to get his MBA. He then became Deputy Director, Navy Marine Corps Relief Society at the Philadelphia Naval Base.
John moved to Pinehurst in 1996 (his 18th move). He served on the Board of Governors, Pinehurst Country Club, and Chairman of the MGA and founded the Legends Golf Tournament because he felt 80 and 90 year olds deserved recognition for still getting out there and playing.
John was an A class tennis player and played against Arthur Ashe (Ashe was better) and a low handicap golfer with three hole-in ones while stationed in Hawaii and one in Pinehurst. His clubs were always with him and he played golf all over the world.
John is survived by his wife Diana “Didi,” son John (Mary), granddaughters Erin (Sam) and Sarah.
He was preceded in death by his son David.
There will not be a service.