Benedict C. Maina

Maina, Benedict C.

Syracuse: March 13, 2012 Benedict C. Maina, 81 of Baldwinsville, NY, passed away Tuesday at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse. He was born in Canandaigua, NY to Anthony and Mary (Cesta) Maina. He attended St. Mary's Elementary School and graduated from Canandaigua Academy in 1948.

Ben Served in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1965 as a flight engineer and was stationed from 1951 to 1952 at Donaldson AFB in Greenville, SC and Sewart AFB in Nashville, TN, and from 1953 to 1954 in Ashiya, Japan. In 1954, he was stationed at Cat Bi AFB in Haiphong, French Indo China (later Vietnam) and flew on supply missions from the Philipines to Haiphong in support of the French Air Force during the battle of Dien Biên Phu. From 1954 to 1963, he was stationed at Hancock Air Force Base in Syracuse and in 1963 returned to Saigon, Viet Nam where he served for one year. On his return in 1964, Ben served his last assignment in the Air Force at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, NY until 1965. From 1965 to his retirement in 1995 he was employed as a maintenance and flight coordinator for the aviation department of Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation at Hancock Airport in Syracuse.

Ben is predeceased by his wife Elinor (Sawers) and survived by three sons, Scott (Stambach) of Walworth, Mark of Baldwinsville, and Robert of Mattydale, two grandsons, Scott Jr. of San Diego, CA and Shawn of Williamson. Also surviving are his sisters, Lucia of Tonawanda and Yvonne of Canandaigua, brothers, Edward of The Villages, FL, Richard of Kittery, ME, James of Tucson, AZ and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends Sunday, March 18th from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at the New Comer Funeral Home, 6 Empire Blvd. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday 10 AM at St. Paul's Church, 783 Hard Rd. Interment Calvary Cemetery, Canandaigua.