Sad news from the world of Pontiacs today as POCI President David Bennett passed away unexpectedly after taking a fall last week. Bennett has been the president of the organization since 2008 and had worked hard to make it a participant oriented and accountable to members. We have a POCI connection here at BangShift because my dad was a member for many years, and the club’sSmoke Signals newsletter was one of the things I learned to read on back in the day.

By all accounts Bennett was a well liked man and someone who was seen as a very positive force in the Pontiac realm of the car hobby. Bennett was a big fan of early 1960’s Pontiacs and owned three of them which he showed and drag raced regularly. He was 65 years old.

Here’s the full news release from POCI regarding the passing of David Bennett:

David J. Bennett, the President of the Pontiac-Oakland Club International since 2008, died on December 29, 2011 at approximately 9:00 pm, Central Time.  He’d taken one dog out on a leash in the middle of the night, slipped on the ice and fell and hit his head. He was 65.

Bennett, from Burnsville, Minnesota, was born in Syracuse, New York on June 25, 1946 to Dr. David W. and Gertrude (Patnode) Bennett. He graduated from Syracuse University and ran a successful environmental and chemical consulting firm. His love of Pontiacs came at an early age- his first car was a ’58 Chieftain and he also took delivery of a new 1964 Ventura. His collection of full-sized Pontiac included two ‘61s, a ’63 and three ‘64s, including his original Ventura.

Dave had worked his way up through the ranks of the Tomahawk Chapter and into POCI hierarchy, becoming a board member more than a decade ago, Vice President in 2007 and President in 2008. During his tenure in those positions, Dave instituted a number of reforms designed to streamline the day-to-day operations of the club, bring total financial transparency and an unimpeachable election process to the organization. The “old boys club” era of POCI came to an end and the club entered a new era where bringing more value to the member was and is the focus.

As well as being a longtime Pontiac fan, he was also an avid motorcyclist, hunter and fisherman. He represented fishing organizations as a member of the Clean Water Council and was past President of the Lake Superior Steelhead Association and was Secretary and board member of the Greater Lake Superior Organization. He had also been a charter member and chair of the Trout and Salmon Stamp Committee.

Dave was preceded in death by parents and daughter, Jennifer Lee. He is survived by wife, Linda; children, David, Lucas, Sarah (Mark), Cinda, and Elizabeth; grandchildren, Ruby Rose, Lauren, and Tiffany. A memorial service will be/was held at  The Church of the Risen Savior. in Burnsville, Minnesota on January 6th.

Dave was a towering figure in the Pontiac hobby and his legacy will continue on through the POCI for many years to come. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends as well as the Pontiac community at large.