Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Benjamin Hamilton Winters, 93, a resident of Shady Side, MD and former longtime resident of Cheverly, MD, passed away peacefully on July 14, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Ben was born on June 16, 1933, in Staten Island, New York. He was the second eldest of four children born to the late Benjamin H. Winters, Sr., and Hortense Carroll Winters. His childhood was shaped during the Great Depression and WWII eras by his large extended family with Irish Catholic roots. He lived his life defined by an overall sense of optimism and always looked on the bright side of things, a trait inherited from his mother. Ben was a hard worker who rarely sat idle, following an example set by his father.

His early education began at Sacred Heart School on Staten Island and then St. Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City, New Jersey. Ben earned a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Peter’s University in 1955, a Master of Science degree from the University of Delaware in 1957, and a Ph.D. from The Catholic University of America in 1963. All of his degrees were in physics, with a concentration in mathematics. 

In 1956, while attending the University of Delaware, he met the love of his life – Anne Baldwin – and they married five years later. Theirs was a true partnership of mutual respect and deep abiding love, and over the years, they grew their family to include three children. In subsequent decades, Ben became a doting grandfather and great-grandfather.

Ben dedicated over 30 years of his professional career to serving his country, through scientific research involving fiber optics and lasers, for the Department of Defense (NSA) at a laboratory in College Park. Prior to that, during the last year of President Kennedy’s administration, he worked at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center where his dissertation was used to study carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

In addition, Ben was a born teacher. While in graduate school, he survived on a stipend plus part-time teaching salaries from Gonzaga High School, Theodore Roosevelt High School, and Trinity College. He was also an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland’s University College, teaching an evening mathematics class each semester for over 40 years. In both capacities, as scientific researcher and teacher, he was respected for his thoughtful intelligence, integrity, steadfastness, and sage advice.

Outside of work, Ben found joy in the outdoors. He enjoyed gardening, whether it was tending to his roses and small vegetable garden in Cheverly or making sure the front flower bed in Shady Side was nicely adorned. He was often entertained by the daily visits of a variety of birds that came to his backyard feeder. Ben also liked to travel. Among his favorite destinations were Ireland, Italy, and a train trip across the Canadian countryside. Additionally, he relished taking his family camping to several national parks in the western U.S. as well as to several European countries. In each place, he found beauty in its landscape, architecture, and history. He appreciated a nice sunrise and often documented the daily angles of the sunrises near his home on the Chesapeake Bay.

However, his favorite hobby of all was fishing. Ben loved fishing – whether from the community pier, on the sandy surf, or in a boat that was caught in a storm. He loved being in, near, or on the water. He was a 30-plus year member of the Surf Angler’s Club, taking part in their annual Mid-Atlantic fishing tournament in Ocean City, Maryland with the Burke Team. 

In addition to outdoor interests, Ben liked to work around the house. His renovation skills and ambition were legendary; knocking down walls was a favorite pastime! Ben enjoyed music of all kinds, especially classical, Celtic/Irish folk songs, 1950’s pop, and country-western oldies. He and Anne were always up for dancing, even when accidentally stumbling upon a honkytonk bar in the backstreets of Kobe, Japan. Ben was also a voracious reader, particularly of historical novels and biographies, which he liked to pass along to family members to discuss. He closely followed politics but abhorred incivility. Among his favorite things were watching Jeopardy and WWII documentaries, enjoying a cold beer or glass of white wine, chocolate in any form, and making large Sunday breakfasts for his family.

Ben was a quiet person, but one with strong faith throughout his life. In his younger years, he served as an altar boy in Sacred Heart Parish. As an adult, he and Anne worked with a social justice program for the Archdiocese of Washington, and later they volunteered with the Engaged Encounter program at St. Ambrose parish in Cheverly. 

He felt strongly about the need for fairness and cared about his community. His lifetime of activities reflected these values. He led the local PTA at Chevery-Tuxedo Elementary School, served on the board of the Idlewilde Civic League, and worked with the National Council of Christians and Jews on an important issue of the time.

But, above all, Ben cherished his family, and they him. Those who knew him will remember his deeply held values, quick sense of humor, generosity of time and spirit, great wisdom, honesty and, yes, a penchant for frugality. His memory lives on in the lives he touched, the lessons he shared, and the love he gave so freely. He will be missed more than words can say.

Ben is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Anne; children Barbara, David (Kirsten), and Kristin; grandchildren Katie (Cody), Quinn, Megan (Eric), and Phoebe; great-grandchildren Austin, Adalynn, and Zoey; a host of fun-loving in-laws, ‘outlaws’, nieces and nephews; and the devoted family beagle, Daisy. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers William T. Winters and Stephen X. Winters, and sister Marilyn Winters Cangro.

A mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, August 22, at 11:00am, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in West River, Maryland. The burial will be private. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that a donation be made to:  

Children’s National Hospital Foundation
Attn: Gift Administration
1 Inventa Place, 6th Floor West
Silver Spring, MD 20910

S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat)
71 O Street, NW
Washington, D. C., 20001-1259 

St. Peter’s Preparatory School
Attn: Alumni Office
144 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302

Online condolences may be made by visiting the Memories tab on this page. 

Benjamin H. Winters

Benjamin H. Winters

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