Ben "Beno" Puro

Super Senior Group Leader



Beno and Bill Heft knew each other for decades, in the days "back at Rosemont," which was a phrase that Beno often used to start a lecture to his group on how things used to be, how things were better in the old days. Beno was really one of the ultimate Tyler Hill Camp characters. He was a stout little man with bow legs, a bald head, a pot belly and a high pitched voice that made him one the most familiar icons in camp. He was part of the original staff in 1956 and was always one of Bill's "key people." As the head of the oldest boys group in camp, he always made sure that his group had an active schedule, so that they slept well. But of course, that strategy never worked, as 14- and 15-year-old boys liked to go to the Girls' side as often as they could. Beno went to great lengths to give his boys the best possible summer they could have. He took his groups on many trips, and many of the alumni can recall listening to Chuck Berry's "My Dingaling" playing on the eight-track player during the ride.

He had many famous routines and catch phrases. Every morning, it was, "Everybody up, get your feet on the floor and roll up those two-cent shades!" Or "C'mon, we're running late," even though they really weren't running late. He was another one of those guys in the

Dining Room who chanted the famous "Ahbay" cheer, usually for no reason, other than to annoy Bill. He would climb up onto the table at mealtime and "Table Surf," which was, given his physical appearance, and the enormous popularity of surfing in the sixties, a very funny sight. Beno was also known as "the fastest zipper in town." Many tried, but few could zip their flies down and up faster than Beno could, and he took on challengers of all ages, from all over camp. At Boys Sing, it was a tradition for Beno to come out at the end, sometimes dressed as a giant baby, but usually in a dress, to perform some Milton Berle routine that always got a laugh. It also left a number of people wondering who the girl was that owned that scary and gigantic dress.

He rarely had to deal with insubordination from his boys, as he commanded a lot of respect during his tenure. Most boys saw him as a grandfather figure, and he had a way about him that made you want to do the right thing. He also had the largest counselors in camp, so anyone who gave Beno even a little problem, had to deal with them. Beno rarely missed a chance to give the boys a laugh, especially on the bus. If there was ever a pretty counselor standing near the bus, and the boys would start buzzing about her, he'd yell at them to show respect for her. Moments later he'd lean out the window and whistle at her. Sometimes the bus would get back into camp at night after Taps and Beno would make a big fuss about keeping the noise down, as "people in Wayne Hall, including Bill are sleeping..." Then, as the bus, now completely silent, slowly passed Wayne Hall, Beno would yell out "Yeeeeeaaaaayyyyyyyyyy!" and the group would erupt in loud laughter and yelling.

And of course, there was "Beno's Bargain Basement." Beno was friends with NBA ref Lou Eisenstein, who had an athletic sportswear business...basketball shorts and socks, t-shirts, headbands, wristbands and sneakers, lots and lots of sneakers. Beno acted as a distributor for Lou, and ran a little business from his room in Senior Hall. At times his room was like a little department store. It's worth mentioning that those shorts were of the cheapest quality and left little mystery about those who wore them.

His departure from Tyler Hill Camp was a long and graceful one, as he handed off the reigns to Joel Chapnick, but he continued to live in his room in Senior Hall, and he regularly attended the activities with the boys who always liked having him around. He passed away a few years after Bill sold the camp, and he is remembered as a good and loyal friend to Bill, and a great legend of Tyler Hill Camp

Video Clip: Beno on the summer of '72