Benjamin John Mammina

Benjamin “School Bus Ben, BJ, Red” J. Mammina, 93, of Benton Harbor passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, September 23, 2016 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph. Mass of Christian Burial be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, September 30, 2016 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, 555 E. Delaware Rd., Benton Harbor with Father Michael Rejent officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Benton Harbor. Friends may visit with the family at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., on Thursday, September 29, 2016 from 5:00P.M. to 8:00P.M with a prayer service at 7:30 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to LIHP (Little Italy Historical Project of Benton Harbor) and or The Soup Kitchen in Benton Harbor http://soupk.org/ Memorial contributions may be made during visitation or at the funeral home after services. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Ben is survived by his children, Tanya Jane Mammina of Benton Harbor, MI and J.R. Mammina also of Benton Harbor, MI; grandchildren Joshua T. Anton, Nicholas Ross Anton, Leah Anton, Ryan Joseph Mammina and Lauren Marie Mammina;  two sisters Louise (Patrick) Larzelere-Mammina and Madeline (Ron) Batson-Mammina; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife Georgia  Jane Mammina and daughter Shaune Mammina. He attended Benton Harbor High School and graduated in 1940. He then went to the University of Notre Dame and graduated in 1944. He furthered his education at Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame and later at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI. Seeing how he was so close to home, he would bring his laundry from ND back to Benton Harbor for his mom to wash. He worked for Michigan Tri-State in the 40’s which was founded by his father J.R. Mammina and his brother Ben L. Mammina, originally Mammina Motor Express. Another brother Tony Mammina owned Mamminas Bar downtown Benton Harbor in Little Italy on Territorial Rd. Ben had a little candy shop in the 50’s in downtown Benton Harbor. When he sold the candy shop, he took his wife and two children, Tanya and J.R., on a road trip to Florida with a trunk full of candy! Ben also worked in Chicago with Ben A, Mammina, driving back and forth every week. He was in the insurance business and following that career into real estate. His last and most loved job was as the Director of Transportation for Benton Harbor Area Schools, hence the name – School Bus Ben. He was very involved in the school system and in founding the school bus safety program, receiving numerous commendations. After retirement he began collecting, buying and selling coins. BJ was quite the collector, you name it, he kept it. Coins, antiques, tokens, clowns, news articles and bird houses. The house, garage and back yard was full of old farm equipment and antiques on display. He was well known at Antiques on the Bluff in St. Joe, bartering tokens for bird houses. He attended many band shell concerts in St. Joe and sat with his buddy Hans Hanke. He had several booths in various towns selling coins and tokens. The collection he cherished most was anything from Notre Dame. Ben loved to play cards, few people could beat him at Gin Rummy. He was an avid bowler on the Elks team from the 50’s through the 70’s. He was the Exalted Ruler for the Elks in 1955 and still played cards there every week. Ben loved to go to the casino by himself, sometimes just taking off and driving down by himself, but he mostly loved to go with his sister Lou and brother-in-law Pat. He played  golf up to the age of 91… and outlived a few of his partners. He loved his music, Big Band, Spiritual, Italian, and Notre Dame songs. He was a member of the Notre Dame Glee Club in college and had sung with the Glee Club for all the home football games. He just recently attended a Glee Club reunion. All former and present members sang together. Ben was a mentor to many students at Notre Dame and would often go down and visit the students and his old dorm. He was a member of the Grand Rapids Notre Dame Alumni Club. Ben was very involved in the community activities in Benton Harbor. He was past treasurer for Benton Township and still served on the board of the Berrien County Road Commission. Ben and his wife Georgia were active in local ministries including the Soup Kitchen. He loved Benton Harbor High School sports and went to most home football and basketball games. He had a special seat by the announcers and sat with his buddies. Ben loved the camera and was never without an instamatic! And so the albums, boxes, and walls are full of photos, thousands of photos from the early 1900’s to the present. He hunted in South Dakota with his Dad and friends for deer and antelope, and here in Benton Harbor for pheasant, rabbit and squirrel. He was a master gardener and loved roses. Something would be blooming from early spring to late fall. Ben was an excellent cook. Everything was from scratch. He used fresh garlic, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and lots of cheese. He loved anything Italian, especially pasta, salami, sardines and olives. He loved going to Tosi’s, his favorite restaurant, with his wife and family and friends. We spent many of his birthdays there – vino, pasta and his other favorites; oysters, escargot and squash blossoms! Ben’s motto was God, country and Notre Dame!