OBITUARIES.

So we've been doing obituaries in class, and, writing about dead people is pretty stressful.

The other day we discussed what we would do if writing about a "controversial" person, like say, Ted Bundy. Do you write all the bad stuff they did? Try to make them sound like a good person?

How do you get that right balance between the facts of his life, and not be a total bitch about it? It's a fine line, my friend. But, that is the art of writing.

A funny coincidence is that I'm currently reading a book for another class, called Basket Case by Carl Hiassen, which is about an obituary writer! So apropos.

We also did an obit in class for Reisner's father. This is what I did.


Sam Benatan, a lock manufacturer for 69 years, died of congestive heart failure at home yesterday. He was 83.

Benatan worked in the lock and key industry since age 14 and was a lock manufacturer for major homebuilders nationwide.

He also played the “Holiday Elf” at the Boulder Chamber of Commerce holiday party for 20 years, until he was afraid that others might look down upon him having children on his knee.

He also served as the vice president for fundraising at the Temple Sinai of Boulder.

Bill Deahl, president of the Colorado Locksmith Association, of which Benatan was a member, said Benatan could pick locks better than anyone.

“He was always ready to take young locksmiths under his wing and teach them what he knew,” said Deahl.

Benatan also created and patented tools for locksmith and lock manufacturing.

“He was a good businessman, but he really should have been an artist. He loved to make things with his hands,” said his son Howard. “It’s kind of a shame that all his creativity went into his business.”

Benatan loved to draw and sculpt, and a grandfather who loved spending time with his granddaughters. He built them a swing in the garden, took them fishing and “to feed the duckies.”

Sam Benatan is survived by his wife, Elva Benatan, son Howard Benatan of Denver, daughter Marcy Troxell of Bangkok, Thailand, and two granddaughters.

Funeral arrangements are prepared for Hillside Memorial Park, 2 p.m., November 8, 2010. A graveside service led by Rabbi Aaron Halfon of Temple Sinai will follow.