"Born on December 24th, 1927, in Middlebranch in a home with no bathrooms, Leonardo Alfredo Benedetto AKA Leonard A. Bennett passed away in a home with three bathrooms in North Canton. His mother was Maria Libra Carrozzi and his father was Giuseppe Benedetto, both from Faeto, Italy. Lenny worked for the Timken Company as a tool maker and retired a supervisor of the tool room. He helped Timken "Roll the Load" while working 32 years, and then Timken helped him to "Roll the Load" with a pension during his retirement."

Those words above were written by Leonard and we found them while we were writing this obituary. He never got to finish it, so, let's help him with the rest of his story.

He was the little guy with the big smile and the big heart. When Leonard "Mouse" Bennett walked into the room, it grew a bit brighter and happier. Getting his nickname "Mouse" from his Aunt as a little boy, Lenny would ride his pet horse on dusty Mahoning Road back in the 1930s. He and his four siblings, Margaret, Carmine, Dolores and Tony grew up in Middlebranch and the Harmont section of Canton where he ran around with his friends, Vince Mazzocca and Joe Cindric.

Lenny graduated from Timken Vocational High School. He met the love of his life, Yolanda "Nina" Romeo Bennett, as she worked at his brother-in-law's dry cleaners; they eloped to Hagerstown, Maryland. He and Yolanda lived and loved for 74 years of marriage. The Korean War drafted him into the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a fireman to the jet fighters that were being introduced in that war. After serving two years and attaining the rank of Corporal first class, he returned to Nina in Canton and became a machinist at the Timken Roller bearing plant on Deuber Avenue, where he worked for 32 years.

Lenny was a jack of all trades. The list of side hustles and passions he had was immense. First and foremost, he was an entrepreneur. He bought land and built homes throughout Canton with his friend Marco Nicodemo; he owned parking lots, rental properties, he was co-owner of Brownlee Machine Shop, he owned Veterans Dry Cleaners on Dueber and Harrison. He even tried his hand at promoting local dance parties and rock shows, and even staged car shows with his friend, the late Nick Streamo!

He also loved serving in the community including being coach and league president for the youth football and basketball programs at the Canton YMCA. He was treasurer of his beloved Timken High School class of 1946 as well as treasurer of the North Canton Wrestling Booster Club and the Stark County Wrestling Hall of Fame. He also loved planning the famous chicken roasts and serving as "Pancake Master" for Coach Walt Tolarchyk's North Canton Hoover wrestling program along with his buddies, "The Three Amigos," Pat Fladung and the late Glen Mears. His love for the sport of wrestling and all wrestlers in Stark County is forever immortalized when he and his wife, Nina, were honored with the Stark County Wrestling Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement award in 1996.

On top of all those milestones, he was an avid lover of the stock market where, without a college education he launched a handful of small fortunes in his 70 year hunt for the best value stocks. He left this earth with more than when he arrived and he gladly gave it away.

He loved his Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Guardians and Cleveland Cavaliers and THE Ohio State Buckeyes. He watched Godfather II more times than you could count and videotaped the entire Sopranos series. His playlist included music from Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Julie London, Stan Kenton, Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello, Errol Garner, George Jones, James Brown, Johnny Cash (he saw him live at the Canton Memorial Civic Center in 1964), Billie Holiday, Louis Prima, and of course, Sid Vicious' rendition of "My Way."

He lived and loved with his wife and best friend for 74 years, Yolanda "Nina" Bennett, and protected and cared for his daughter Mary Jo Bennett Boone, foster daughter Carol Schreckengost and son John Bennett. They are forever in his debt. He doted on and adored his grandchildren Eddy Schreckengost, Andrew Boone and Valerie Boone Erichsen. And he loved all his Family including members of the Romeo, Strata, Sturiale, Martin, Tornero, Caiazza, Mastrovito, Forchione, Beck, Boone, Erichsen, Schreckengost, Ravn, Ryder and the D'Angelo families. And let's not forget, he will miss giving belly rubs to his sweet cat, Lola.

There will be no calling hours. A small, private military service will be held at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman/Seville, followed by a lunch with family and friends to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, Lenny asked if you could donate to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots, the North Canton Wrestling Booster Club or the Stark County Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The Bennett Family would also like to the thank the good people at Crossroads Palliative Care, including the wonderful Nurse Cherise.

And one more thing: During his later years, he would serve wrestlers, parents and fans at the North Canton Hoover High concession stand where he earned the nickname "Mr. Adorable" by his friends Peggy Mears and Cassie Oakes.

So, as they say, "Mr. Adorable has left the building!" We will always love you!

ROSSI (330)492-5830

www.rossifuneralhomeinc.com