Roger Lee Benson, 72, of Woodstock, passed away at home Wednesday, July 4, 2012, after an extended illness.

Roger was born Dec. 30, 1939, in his grandmother's home in Huntley. He was the oldest of three sons of the late Violet and Gordon Benson. He grew up in Wonder Lake, graduated from McHenry High School in 1958, and received his undergraduate education in zoology and chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana, where he was on the varsity baseball team. He graduated from medical school at the University of Illinois – Chicago in 1966.
His medical residency in internal medicine at Cook County Hospital was interrupted by military service in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. He served as a physician in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. He developed a great fondness and admiration for the Vietnamese people, and later returned to Vietnam as an AMA-sponsored volunteer physician.

After returning to Chicago, Roger completed his medical residency at Cook County Hospital and continued his career there as an attending physician. He was on the medical staff at Loyola University Medical Center from 1983 to 1993 and also Michael Reese Hospital from 1988 to 1990. He then found his true calling as a correctional care physician and began practicing solely at Cermak Health Services of Cook County from 1990 to 2003, providing medical care for the inmates at Cook County Jail. In recent years, he also practiced at the Milwaukee County Department of Corrections.

As a tall man with a gentle soul, he was truly dedicated to serving the medical needs of his patients. Roger loved collecting antiques, Cajun dancing and music. He was an avid supporter of the Chicago folk scene and was a board member of Offsquare Music in Woodstock. He also served on the board of the Woodstock Mozart Festival for many years.
Roger is survived by his wife of nine years, Linda Noggle; and his stepdaughter, Camille Altay of Brooklyn, N.Y., whom he considered as his own. He was devoted to Linda's family, who reside in Tennessee and California. Also surviving are his two brothers, Rodney (Grace) Benson of Stephenson, Mich., and Len Benson of Woodstock; one nephew; and two nieces. Roger also leaves many cherished friends and colleagues in Chicago and Woodstock.