Dr. James E. Bennett

James E. (Doc) Bennett MD passed away Thursday, June 21, 2018. He was 93 years old and had recently celebrated his birthday with his entire family.

Born in Burlington, WI in 1925 to Florence and Dr. John F. Bennett, he graduated Saint Mary’s High School in 1943. Through the Navy V12 program, he attended Notre Dame and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for undergraduate studies. He graduated from Northwestern University Medical School and later served in the U.S. Navy as medical officer aboard the USS Talladega. Dr. Bennett trained in general surgery at the University of Michigan in 1956, where he met his future wife, Ellen “Scotty” Macpherson. The Bennetts moved to Galveston, Texas, where Dr. Bennett completed his residency in plastic surgery at the University of Texas at Galveston.

Dr. Bennett joined the faculty of Ohio State University in 1961 at age 36 as the first full-time director of the division. In 1964 he was appointed Professor of Surgery and Director of Plastic Surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, IN. He served in that capacity until his retirement in 1991. Dr. Bennett and Scotty raised their four children in the idyllic neighborhood of Brendonwood in Indianapolis. They developed lifelong friendships with the many wonderful families in Brendonwood.

Passionate about teaching as well as surgery, Dr. Bennett directed more than sixty surgeons through the Plastic Surgery Residency at IUMC. While most entered private practice, four became university professors directing their own accredited training programs in the specialty. An additional 13 former trainees have held faculty appointments at various universities.

A gifted leader in the reconstructive plastic surgery profession, Dr. Bennett served terms as Chairman of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, President of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, and Vice President of The American College of Surgeons.

In 1988 Dr. Bennett was awarded the prestigious “Sagamore of the Wabash” by then Indiana Governor Robert D. Orr. This award is a personal tribute usually given to those who have rendered a distinguished service to the state or to the governor. In 1989 he was awarded the “Kentucky Colonel,” a similar award for the State of Kentucky.

Dr. Bennett retired in 1991 and received the Glenn W. Irwin Award for distinguished faculty service. Shortly afterward his former residents founded the James E. Bennett Surgical Society. The James E. Bennett Professorship in Plastic Surgery was also established and funded.

After retirement Dr. Bennett realized a lifelong dream, establishing Benaire Farm in Morgan County, Indiana and spending the next 30 years breeding and racing standardbred horses. “Doc” started in horseracing as an owner in 1981, and his first star was Raven’s Arrow, an Indiana Sires Stakes winner in 1981. He went on to breed more than 10 sub two-minute trotters and won breeding awards in 2000 and 2001. His crowning racing achievement was having his finest brood mare, Crunchess, inducted into the Indiana Standardbred Hall of Fame in 2014. He was a regular fixture at racing events at the Indiana State Fair, Indiana Downs, and Hoosier Park.

He is survived by his sister Betty Jake and his children, Dave Bennett, Tom Bennett (Vickie), Jon Bennett (Sandy), Missy Campbell (Bob), as well as the great joys of his life, his 6 grandchildren: Elizabeth Campbell, Katherine Bennett, Emily Campbell, Stephanie Bennett, Bryan Bennett, and Liam Bennett. He was preceded in death by his devoted wife, Ellen “Scotty” Macpherson Bennett.

In remembrance of Dr. Bennett, memorial donations may be made in his name to the Richard M. Fairbanks Eskenazi Health Burn Unit in Indianapolis.

Friends and family will gather Sunday, June 24, 2018, 4 until 7 p.m., in the chapel at Carlisle - Branson Funeral Service & Crematory, 39 E. High St., Mooresville. The funeral service will follow at 7 p.m. Burial will take place privately on Monday morning in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Hall. Visit www.CarlisleBranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.