Comments:
I graduated with Ben at Colby, class of '98. We worked in the A.V. (Audio/Visual) department together for all of the years we were students at Colby (I was gone 1 year and a half and Ben spent I think at least a semester away). I don't think we ever had any classes together (I was an English major), but you spend a lot of time in that job either studying or talking to each other. We talked to each other quite a bit. I always liked Ben in so many ways. He was so completely his own person in the gentlest, unassuming kind of way. I remember he used to tell me of his travels up in Alaska - how he prefered to explore the United States much more than Europe or anywhere too developed. He loved nature in its most untouched- unassuming way...kind of like how he moved through the world. I remember he told me about a place he visited in Alaska called "Head Smashed In, Buffalo Jump". I've vowed to visit this place sometime before I die. We used to laugh about the mispronunciation of my last name (or I used to laugh and Ben would politely laugh, somewhat nervously). Clough is pronounced "Cluff" and there are a litany of ways the English language contradicts itself. I remember he made me laugh so hard when he used "Ghana" as another way GH is used to contradict the various forms of "GH" in middle english. He was always an original thinker. We didn't stay in touch after Colby, but I remember thinking a year or two after we graduated..."I wonder if I'll ever see Ben Ling again..." almost as if I knew on some level that something was wrong...but really all I thought was that I missed him. This was, of course, pre-facebook and the rest of it. The news was tragic and I found out only through the Colby Magazine. I will always miss Ben and have fond memories of him. Thanks for giving me a place to honor my memory.

Comments:
I graduated with Ben at Colby, class of '98. We worked in the A.V. (Audio/Visual) department together for all of the years we were students at Colby (I was gone 1 year and a half and Ben spent I think at least a semester away). I don't think we ever had any classes together (I was an English major), but you spend a lot of time in that job either studying or talking to each other. We talked to each other quite a bit. I always liked Ben in so many ways. He was so completely his own person in the gentlest, unassuming kind of way. I remember he used to tell me of his travels up in Alaska - how he prefered to explore the United States much more than Europe or anywhere too developed. He loved nature in its most untouched- unassuming way...kind of like how he moved through the world. I remember he told me about a place he visited in Alaska called "Head Smashed In, Buffalo Jump". I've vowed to visit this place sometime before I die. We used to laugh about the mispronunciation of my last name (or I used to laugh and Ben would politely laugh, somewhat nervously). Clough is pronounced "Cluff" and there is a littany of ways the English language contradicts itself. I remember he made me laugh so hard when he used "Ghana" as another way GH is used to contradict the various forms of "GH" in middle english. He was always an original thinker. We didn't stay in touch after Colby, but I remember thinking a year or two after we graduated..."I wonder if I'll ever see Ben Ling again..." almost as if I knew on some level that something was wrong...but really all I thought was that I missed him. This was, of course, pre-facebook and the rest of it. The news was tragic and I found out only through the Colby Magazine. I will always miss Ben and have fond memories of him. Thanks for giving me a place to honor my memory.

Comments:
I graduated with Ben at Colby, class of '98. We worked in the A.V. (Audio/Visual) department together for all of the years we were students at Colby (I was gone 1 year and a half and Ben spent I think at least a semester away). I don't think we ever had any classes together (I was an English major), but you spend a lot of time in that job either studying or talking to each other. We talked to each other quite a bit. I always liked Ben in so many ways. He was so completely his own person in the gentlest, unassuming kind of way. I remember he used to tell me of his travels up in Alaska - how he prefered to explore the United States much more than Europe or anywhere too developed. He loved nature in its most untouched- unassuming way...kind of like how he moved through the world. I remember he told me about a place he visited in Alaska called "Head Smashed In, Buffalo Jump". I've vowed to visit this place sometime before I die. We used to laugh about the mispronunciation of my last name (or I used to laugh and Ben would politely laugh, somewhat nervously). Clough is pronounced "Cluff" and there is a littany of ways the English language contradicts itself. I remember he made me laugh so hard when he used "Ghana" as another way GH is used to contradict the various forms of "GH" in middle english. He was always an original thinker. We didn't stay in touch after Colby, but I remember thinking a year or two after we graduated..."I wonder if I'll ever see Ben Ling again..." almost as if I knew on some level that something was wrong...but really all I thought was that I missed him. This was, of course, pre-facebook and the rest of it. The news was tragic and I found out only through the Colby Magazine. I will always miss Ben and have fond memories of him. Thanks for giving me a place to honor my memory.

Comments:
Will send pics when i return home- lived with ben in Utica as his bunkmate. Today has reminded me of him, as I think of your son often. My apologies for not communicating before, well, he sure loved his lonestar belt buckle with the bottle cap opener on the back...used it to open coors and rolling rock :) sorry i wasn't a better influence on him, though to tell the truth he was one of the most grounded of friends i have ever had. Oh yeah...and roger miller because "it's the only song i"ve ever heard that mentions Maine"! He also loved the tuba blap in kansas city star... it's one of my favorites now... Regards, Jason Brewer