Clifford Benson Jr. built a successful 37-year career as a partner with “Big Four” accounting firm Deloitte, but his second act in the hockey world is where he made his mark for Penn State. Benson ’71 Bus, a longtime friend of Terry Pegula ’73 EMS, was tapped in 2010, just as he retired from Deloitte, to help shepherd the Pegulas’ $88 million donation to the university for the building of Pegula Ice Arena and creation of Division I men’s and women’s hockey programs. 

“Cliff was always interested in helping others. He had a heart of gold and loved Penn State,” says former Penn State club hockey coach Joe Battista ’83 Bus. “Because of Cliff’s background in finance, his connections with hockey, and his knowledge of Penn State’s inner workings, he and I and some of the people in the development office worked with Terry and [his wife] Kim to consummate that gift.”

Benson also served as chief development officer of the Buffalo Sabres, the National Hockey League team owned by Pegula. Earlier in his career, he’d helped to launch Pittsburgh I.C.E., which offers children of all socio-economic backgrounds in the Pittsburgh area the chance to learn how to play ice hockey. “He helped connect a lot of people, that was his superpower,” Battista says.

Benson’s family and Christian faith were his biggest priorities. He served in leadership roles at multiple churches and did mission work in the U.S. and overseas. He served on the Penn State Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors of Penn State Health.

Benson (FKS) died Sept. 12, 2025, in Sewickley, Pa. He was 77. Preceded in death by his son Matthew, he is survived by Cheryl, his wife of 45 years, sons Gregory and Paul, and four granddaughters. —RR