Though she was not a Butler County native, Sue R. Bennitt’s involvement in the community and accomplishments would have led most people to believe she was born and raised here. Her life, since moving here from Maine in 1971, reflected a focus of community commitment and dedication, as well as a vision of what the county could become.

Bennitt’s death on Sunday produced a void that others will be hard-pressed to fill.

Unlike a political candidate who makes promises he or she might not be able to keep, Sue built her efforts not upon self-importance or living in the spotlight, but instead upon hard work behind the scenes.

Many longtime county residents might not have been familiar with the name Sue R. Bennitt. The exception were students of Butler County Community College between 1979 and 1999, when Bennitt was a faculty member in the counseling and guidance department.

But it was Bennitt nevertheless who was one of the guiding stars for some of Butler’s big successes.

She and her husband, Fred, led the $7 million fundraising campaign for the new patient tower at Butler Memorial Hospital. She also was a founder of the Butler County Day Care Center, now known as the Butler County Children’s Center.

She played an important role in the 1999 BC3 Capital Campaign that raised more than $4 million to build the college’s Science and Technology Center and Succop Theater.

After learning of Sue’s death, Ken DeFurio, Butler Health System president and chief executive officer, said, “Sue touched many lives, and our community is a much better place because of her.”

Her volunteer service with various agencies and entities, such as the United Way, VNA of Western Pennsylvania and the VNA Hospice, the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation, BC3’s Education Foundation and the Butler Area Public Library, helped her touch — and improve — the lives of many people in this county. Her deep community involvment and quiet determination to make life better here for many should be an inspiration — and challenge — to others.

Nick Neupauer, BC3 president, called Bennitt’s death a “great loss not just for BC3 but for the entire community.”

He said Bennitt’s passion and dedication to BC3’s mission could never be recognized enough.

Sue was honored a number of times for her work, but accolades were not what fueled her determination to work for Butler’s and the county’s benefit.

The goal of helping others was the motivation that guided much of her life.

Others will be called upon to continue the work that marked Bennitt’s life of service here, and those people also will be asked to carry forward the optimistic spirit that she always projected.

It’s because of people like Sue Bennitt that so many strides have been made in this county. Good things stemming from her many efforts will continue long into the future, even though she’s now gone.