Aragon High School Alumni
San Mateo, California (CA)
In Memory of
Ben Read Denton
1918-2016
Born Nov 14, 1918, Ben Read Denton attended Aragon High School in San Mateo, CA.
Faculty
Nov 14, 1918 - Jan 26, 2016
Nov 14, 1918 - Jan 26, 2016
Mr. Ben Denton was a orchestral and choral music teacher at Aragon. Here is some excerpts from his lengthy, but moving, obituary that tells of how Mr. Denton came to San Mateo. The link to Mr. Denton's complete life story is below the excerpt. Please consider taking some time to read the entire text.
"...At this time he met the love of his life, Shirley Ellsworth. Ben was then drafted into the Army. He was quickly promoted to Sergeant and was accepted into Officer’s Candidate School. Ben and Shirley were married in July of 1943. Immediately after the wedding, Ben shipped out to North Africa, and then Italy to fight in WWII."
"A Korean War buddy, and fellow music educator, encouraged Ben to apply for a choral director job at a new high school being built in San Mateo. At age 43, Ben started all over again with a small group of 9th and 10th graders. He also directed the Orpheon Male Chorus. In the years 1969 to 1971 he combined the Orpheon group with the “San Mateo High School District Choir and Orchestra” and put together some extraordinary concerts complimented by the mature male voices."
https://www.theunion.com/news/obituaries/obituary-of-ben-reid-denton/article_7d2c8b78-b2af-5a10-afe4-e6689f112c9e.html
Rest in peace, Mr. Denton, and thank you for your service to America and to our education.
"...At this time he met the love of his life, Shirley Ellsworth. Ben was then drafted into the Army. He was quickly promoted to Sergeant and was accepted into Officer’s Candidate School. Ben and Shirley were married in July of 1943. Immediately after the wedding, Ben shipped out to North Africa, and then Italy to fight in WWII."
"A Korean War buddy, and fellow music educator, encouraged Ben to apply for a choral director job at a new high school being built in San Mateo. At age 43, Ben started all over again with a small group of 9th and 10th graders. He also directed the Orpheon Male Chorus. In the years 1969 to 1971 he combined the Orpheon group with the “San Mateo High School District Choir and Orchestra” and put together some extraordinary concerts complimented by the mature male voices."
https://www.theunion.com/news/obituaries/obituary-of-ben-reid-denton/article_7d2c8b78-b2af-5a10-afe4-e6689f112c9e.html
Rest in peace, Mr. Denton, and thank you for your service to America and to our education.
Services were held Sunday, April 3rd, at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Grass Valley. You can honor Ben’s legacy with a memorial gift to: Providence Hospice, 6410 NE Halsey #300, Portland, OR 97213.
Here is the link to Mr. Denton's Find a Grave site. There is a lovely photo of the cemetery's entrance.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/256004582/ben_r-denton
Here is the link to Mr. Denton's Find a Grave site. There is a lovely photo of the cemetery's entrance.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/256004582/ben_r-denton
Carol Susoff '68 said:
Mr. Denton was a wonderful music teacher. He brought out the best in the children he taught. I sang in the All City Honor Choir under his direction. He was amazingly kind, supportive of his students and knew how to bring out the best in each child. I admired him so much. May he rest in peace. Such a shame there are not more teachers like him today. He was really amazing. Carol Susoff Flanigan
Posted April 20th, 2026
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CommentCarlene Martin '65 said:
Mr. Denton was a wonderful choir director. I remember him getting so into leading us that he would be sweating! We had a lot of fun in that class and at our concerts. Thanks, Mr. Denton for all your efforts to bring out the best in us. Carlene Martin Walker
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