At the age of 21, in the fall semester of his senior year at St. 博纳旺蒂尔, Norb班纳特, ’62, did something most people at that age only dream about doing: He took over the operation of his family’s dairy farm.

He grew up on that farm in Holland, 纽约, established by his parents in 1939 with 40 acres of land. 

“Ninety percent of what we ate came off that farm,贝内特说。. The family of eight produced their own milk, 黄油, potatoes and more — enough to feed them throughout each year. 

He purchased the farm outright from his brothers and sisters, expanding the operations through the decades. Today he is steward to more than 1,400 acres. 

And that’s just one aspect of his career, which spans nearly six decades.

同时, he put his newly earned BBA in accounting to use immediately after graduation, 加入安永 & 恩斯特. By 1977 he was promoted to partner and at the time of his retirement 36 years later, he served as managing partner of the Buffalo office with oversight responsibility for the firm’s health care audit practice in Upstate 纽约, Northeastern Pennsylvania and West Virginia. During 2003 he became the sole member of a limited liability company with a 50 percent ownership in a group of skilled nursing facilities, which today operate in seven states with approximately 5,000张床位和5张,000名员工.

He never took a sick day in the first 46 years after leaving Bona’s. In fact, tending to the things in life that nourish others is both a calling and a joy for Bennett.

He has been an avid supporter of the university throughout his adult life, believing strongly in the Franciscan tradition.

"St. 博纳旺蒂尔’s values of compassion, wisdom and integrity have great applicability in both public accounting and caring for the frail elderly in nursing homes,贝内特说。.

寻求智慧的价值 也深深地引起了他的共鸣. Three of his four children attended Bona’s: Bill, who was injured in an accident in February of his senior year, 1991, and died the day his class graduated; Laura, who earned a master’s degree in 1993; and Karin, who earned a master’s degree from the University at Buffalo, with several of her graduate courses taken at Bona’s. 

Other family Bona grads include his brother-in-law, 唐Denz, ’53, 弟弟比尔, ’63, 妹妹凯蒂, ’73, and several nephews and nieces. Bennett’s father and brother-in-law were accountants, which first piqued his interest in accounting as a major and in Bona’s. 他和他的妻子 established the William J. Bennett Memorial Scholarship for students majoring in accounting.

Bennett is currently a member of Bona's Board of Trustees. He served on the School of Business Advisory Board, aiding the school in raising more than $15 million four months ahead of schedule for the William E. 安·L. Swan Business Center, which opened in 2013. He also helped lead the Class of 1962 in celebrating its 50th and 55th reunions and in restoring the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“He’s very good at pulling people together,杰拉尔德·福特说, a fellow classmate who joined him on the Class of 1962 reunion committees. “He appreciates ideas and respects the opinions of others, and he reaches out to engage the best energies of everyone involved.”

His board work has involved a dozen organizations across Western 纽约, including the United Way of Erie County, the Western 纽约 March of Dimes, and the Kiwanis Club and Boys and Girls Club of Holland.

他会告诉你的 he has gained more through these efforts than he has ever given, especially through his years of service on behalf of the Bonnies of today.

“My hope for Bona students is that they carry forward the values of St. 博纳旺蒂尔 and maintain a lifelong, active role with the university and with their classmates,他说.



Some of his best memories while attending St. 博纳旺蒂尔 include being a member of the first soccer team under head coach John Skehan and assistant coach Rick Barrera. He and his brother and their nephew Bill Franczak, who played soccer together in high school, all enjoyed a year of playing together at the college level before Bennett graduated.

他和他的妻子, 戴安娜, still reside on the farm in Holland, 被称为松草坪农场, with their three living children and nine grandchildren all residing within an eight-mile radius. 

His commitment to nurturing the land — and Bona’s — is as strong as ever.

“St. 博纳旺蒂尔 offers a great education, great foundation for life experiences, 和一生的好朋友,他说.