Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit laid to rest

The late Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit was laid to rest on Tuesday. The funeral mass for the longtime California Highway Patrol officer who became a politician and public servant was held at a packed St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in La Quinta. Benoit died the day after Christmas of pancreatic cancer, one day short of his 65th birthday and mere weeks after his diagnosis.

Hundreds of people filled the church where Benoit was fondly remembered by family, friends and colleagues for his 45 years of public service, as a man of great character and as a devoted father and a devout member of the church.

“It’s been said that you can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. That was John,” said friend Kay Hazen. “I saw and came to know this gentle man as a strong force for good, a consistent leader with a skill for integrity that inspired others, always.”

“State assembly, state senator, county supervisor,” fellow Assembly member Guy Houston said, reading off Benoit’s political career achievements. “What a record of accomplishments.”

“He had many titles and he wanted them for one reason,” his son, Ben Benoit, said to the crowd. “So he could give back to his community.”

“I really bristle when I hear someone condemn all politicians as crooks and liars,” said his brother, Paul Benoit. “We had the honor of knowing one who was as dedicated a servant as anyone could conceive.”

Benoit was laid to rest during a private burial in Coachella later in the day.