Bombers mourn passing of Nick Benjamin
Published on August 21, 2007 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers News Release
WINNIPEG, MB - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers organization wishes to express its sincere condolences to the family and friends of former Bomber offensive lineman Nick Benjamin who passed away recently.
Benjamin died following a lengthy battle with kidney disease. He was 46 at the time of his death.
"This is truly a sad time for everyone involved in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers organization and for the community at large," said Bomber President and CEO Lyle Bauer, a former teammate of Benjamin's.
"Nick Benjamin was a quality football player and, more importantly, a quality individual who did so much for the people around him. While we mourn his loss, we should also celebrate a life that touched so many people."
Benjamin, who was born May 29, 1961 in Trinidad, was an outstanding collegiate athlete for the Concordia Stingers football team, for whom he was twice named an All-Canadian and conference all-star and was recently inducted into the university's Sports Hall of Fame.
The first overall selection of the Ottawa Rough Riders in the 1985 CFL Canadian Draft, Benjamin played five seasons for the Riders before joining the Blue Bombers in 1989. He spent five seasons in a Blue Bomber uniform before retiring following the 1993 season.
His football resume included his selection as the CFL's East Division Nominee for the Schenley Outstanding Rookie Award in 1995 while a member of the Rough Riders. He also won a Grey Cup as a member of the 1990 Blue Bombers team that defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 50-11. That team included the likes of Greg Battle, David Black, Bob Cameron, Rod Hill, Rick House, Stan Mikawos, Trevor Kennerd, James Murphy and Chris Walby.
Benjamin remained active in Winnipeg following his retirement from football. He recently served as the chairman of the Kidney Foundation of Manitoba's 9 @ 9 Golf Tournament. Benjamin was diagnosed with kidney disease several years ago.
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