D. Gary Benfield died on Monday, April 30, 2018. He was doing what he loved—writing his children's books, being a part of the Chapin, SC community, and enjoying life with his wife, Cathy —when he suffered a massive stroke. Gary was born on May 17, 1938 in Concord, NC, to Minnie (Brandt) and Robert Benfield. He is survived by his wife, Catherine (Gehrke) Benfield; his three daughters, Terree Brncick and husband Greg, Laura Weimer and husband Dan, Cindy Kelley and husband Mike; grandchildren, Emma Kelley, Lindsay Brncick, Sarah Kelley, Rebecca Kelley, Ali Weimer, and Laura Kelley; brother, Eric Benfield and wife, Paulann; nephews, Robert Benfield and wife, Lisa, Marshall Benfield and wife Dana; cousins, Peggy Cress Cormier, Beverly Benfield Smith, Tony Rogers, Richard Rogers, Steve Blomeley, and Bob Blomeley; brother-in-law, Bob Gehrke and wife Sarah; and first wife and mother of his three children, Rebecca Hays Jones. Growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, Dad would often credit the all-boys Baltimore Polytechnic Institute for laying a strong foundation for his future endeavors. He attended the University of Maryland, College Park, graduating with a B.S. degree in electrical engineering. But soon after graduation, he felt the call to pursue a career in medicine, and after returning to school to satisfy the premed requirements, he was accepted into the University of Maryland School of Medicine where he earned his Medical Degree in 1965. He began his residency training in pediatrics at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore and completed residency at the Baylor University College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. From 1968 to 1970, he served as a Captain in the United States Air Force at the Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware. Dad went on to complete fellowship training at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and became the country's 38th board-certified neonatologist. He planned to begin his career in Cincinnati, but a call from Dr. Carl Krill, at Akron Children's Hospital, changed his path. In 1972, he was recruited to Akron as the first neonatologist to serve the greater Akron community. The staff of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, his colleagues, and his former students and residents remember Dad as a strong patient and family advocate. At a time when parents were not typically actively involved in their baby's care plan, he recognized the importance of a family centered approach to neonatal care and made sure they were included and that their needs were met. He became a thought-leader in ethics in neonatology, obtaining his master's degree in philosophy from Kent State University in 1988 and speaking regionally and nationally about topics such as newborn comfort care and caring for families of dying newborns. Along with Haynes Robinson, MD, he co-founded the D. Gary Benfield Fetal Treatment Center, where families with complex pregnancies could receive team-based, coordinated care across a broad range of specialties. Dad also collaborated with the National Guard Unit to implement the first helicopter transport service for sick newborns in the area in 1972. Over the three decades Dad spent at Akron Children's Hospital, he led the growth of the neonatal service to include many talented neonatologists, nurses, and support staff in providing state-of-the-art care to an expansive Northeast Ohio region. Dad was always learning and teaching and finding outlets for these pursuits. For twelve years,he published a weekly column in the Alliance Review, the "Baby Beat", a place where he answered questions submitted by parents about a wide range of topics. He collated these articles into his first book, Walking the Baby Beat, and went on to publish two more books that provide guidance to pregnant women in regards to taking medication during pregnancy. In 2007, Dad and Cathy moved to Chapin, South Carolina where he began his next career as a children's book author. He always saw this work as an equal collaboration with his extraordinary illustrator, Chris Sharp. The two of them published children's books, books to read to your baby during pregnancy, and recently expanded their work into baby board books. These books help children and parents deal with issues such as bullying, making new friends, and doing your chores. Of course, they also encourage us to "toot your own horn", his most recent title. Among other organizations, Dad was a founding board member of the Akron Ronald McDonald House and was an active member of the Chapin Rotary. Dad was always so proud of his "TLC" girls, and we were so very proud to be his daughters. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, May 26 at the Sherman Auditorium, Akron Children's Hospital, Akron, OH. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.whitakerfuneralhome.com. Whitaker Funeral Home of Chapin is assisting the family.