Dan Benwell is a retired 7th Grade Science teacher. He grew up in north St. Louis, attended Wheaton College, received his bachelor’s degree from N.I.U. in Illinois and completed a Master’s Program at UMSL. After retiring, he became a school bus driver and entered a Medical Records program at St. Charles Community College, which he completed in July 2010.
Dan has been married to his wife, Janet for 47 years and they have a daughter, Katie and son, Andrew. Dan and Janet have two grandson, Samuel and Daniel.
Dan met Bill Cullen, an initial force for the Clinic around July 2010; as they both attended Wentzville United Methodist Church. Dan heard from Bill that a Volunteer in Medicine Clinic was planning to be opened. His interest and availability sent him on a quest to become a Volunteer at the Clinic. After meeting Bill, Dan remembers Dr. Baig and Cheryl Moellenhoff as being some of the first he associated with at the Clinic. Soon afterward, he met other volunteers, such as Al Moellenhoff, Sharon and Ted Pivin, Dennis and Fran Burthard and Dr. Kardish. Since then, Dan says the list of names of volunteers has grown, adding up to 60,000 + recorded hours of volunteer service since the clinic opened in 2010.
Dan has felt from the beginning that there is an atmosphere of CARING at the Clinic: caring for the physical, mental and social wellbeing of those who come to the Clinic for assistance. Caring helpful hands and minds willing to reach out towards fellow community members.
In closing, Dan comments that when our community, state and country move past this pandemic and persons are interested in helping, he encourages them to call the Clinic and find out more about the effort of the Clinic’s motto “Neighbors Caring for Neighbors”.
Dan is a very caring person and a member of the honorable group of volunteers.