Benjamin Tucker

May 30, 1935 - February 12, 2021

Benjamin Wilfred Tucker was born May 30, 1935 in Warwick, Bermuda to the late Eleanor Paula Anderson Tucker and Benjamin Robert Tucker. He was the sixth of 11 children. Ben went to primary school in Bermuda and then attended Oshawa Missionary College now known as Kingsway college in Oshawa Canada for high school and junior college. After graduating from Oshawa Missionary College in 1958, he matriculated to Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1960 with a B.A. in Chemistry. After graduating from Atlantic Union College, he went back to Bermuda and taught school for about a year. In the latter part of 1961, he came back to the states to live with his brother, Roger, in Connecticut. While living there, he enjoyed doting on his nieces, Peggy (Tucker) Johnson, and Roslyn (Tucker) Evans. In December of 1961 while attending church in New Haven, he caught the first glimpse of the love of his life, Emily. A young man came and sat beside her, and much to his chagrin, Ben thought that he was her boyfriend. His disappointment soon turned to joy when he learned the young man was Emily’s brother, not a suitor. They soon began dating and 3 years later, December 13, 1964, they were married. In 1967 Ben and Emily were blessed with the first of 3 children, Benjamin Tucker, Jr. Soon thereafter Ben graduated from Southern Connecticut State College (now university) with a Master of Science in Chemistry. In the next couple of years Ben and Emily were blessed with their only daughter, Lucretia, and a few years later their family was completed with another son, Samuel. Ben worked as a Research Chemist for Upjohn, Dow Chemical, Olin Corporation, Arco, and Lyondell. He received several patents for the work that he did. Ben enjoyed flying and earned his Private Pilot License in 1954. While in Bermuda he would take his younger brothers and the children in the neighborhood for seaplane rides. Throughout his life he loved attending airshows. In his spare time Ben enjoyed gardening. He had a big garden and grew all sorts of vegetables. The produce was so good that he often had to battle raccoons, rabbits, deer, and skunks who were trying to rob the garden. He also enjoyed fixing cars, doing home improvement projects and helping others. Ben was a God-fearing man. As a faithful and active member of the Mt. Zion Seventh-day Adventist church, he served as an Elder for many years. He also served as Finance Committee chair, Building Committee chair, Religious Liberty leader, Stewardship leader and enjoyed singing in the choir. Most of all Ben enjoyed spending time with his family and the church family. Ben was predeceased by his brothers, Roger, George and Ernest Tucker; sisters, Vivian Pearman and Paula Joaquin. He leaves to mourn his wife of 56 years Emily Tucker; children, Benjamin (Roslyn) Tucker, Lucretia Tucker, and Samuel (Tricia) Tucker; grandchildren, Kyla and Janelle Tucker; sisters, Eleanor Robinson of Virginia, Sheila Blakeney of Bermuda; brothers, Leofran Tucker of Florida, Errolyn Tucker and Richard (Saleem) Tucker of Bermuda; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins throughout the United States, Bermuda and Canada. Ben will be fondly remembered by his childhood friends, Sam Lightbourne of Florida, Gladstone “Banks” Smith of Canada, and his church family at Mt. Zion SDA Church.