Robert R. Benedetti, one of the longest serving deans of the College of the Pacific and former executive director of the Jacoby Center, died Feb. 26 in Sacramento after a brief illness with melanoma. He was 83.

Benedetti joined University of the Pacific in 1989 as dean of the university’s liberal arts college, where he also taught political science. During his 13 years as dean, he led the college through the transformation of the general education program, centralized the humanities on campus and helped create the John Muir Center and the Jacoby Center for Public Service and Civic Leadership. He later led the Jacoby Center as executive director for 11 years.

Benedetti also spearheaded the Mentor Seminars—now called CORE Seminars—as part of the undergraduate student experience to prepare “citizen leaders,” an early motto of the program. The Association of American Colleges and Universities recognized Pacific nationally for its general education curriculum.

“Despite how busy he was as the dean, he taught classes for us every year because he loved teaching and loved being directly connected to our students,” said Marisa Kelly, former professor of political science and current president of Suffolk University. “Bob was an outstanding teacher. He was also an incredible mentor to me. I learned so much from him about being a good university citizen and about being a good colleague. I admired his intellect, his integrity and his commitment to his family.” 

Benedetti was part of the planning committee for Pacific’s first provost and served on the university’s Founders Day and presidential search committees. He was president of Pacific’s Phi Beta Kappa Chapter, the nation’s oldest academic honor society.

“Bob Benedetti was a profoundly good person. His boundless intellectual curiosity kept him engaged with faculty and students across every discipline,” said Professor of Spanish Susan Giraldez. “My service as assistant dean under his leadership gave me an inside view of his unwavering integrity. His generosity of spirit and commitment to improving our local community continue through the Jacoby Center and through the example he set for those who had the privilege of knowing him.”

When Benedetti moved to the Jacoby Center as executive director in 2002, he continued connecting students to hands-on civic work. The center pairs undergraduate research with applied social science, supporting local internships and research projects. Under his leadership, Pacific secured grants from the Pew Charitable Trust and through the Help America Vote Act to study voting system effectiveness. Benedetti edited the resulting book, "More Votes That Count: A Case Study in Voter Mobilization."

Benedetti retired in 2013 after 24 years at Pacific and was awarded the Order of Pacific—the university’s highest honor. He also received a Faculty Mentor Award.

Former student Ty-Licia Hooker ’12 said, “I still remember something he once told me: ‘Your dreams are worth following—keep it up.’ That validation meant more to me than he probably ever knew. I will always be grateful for the impact Bob had on my life. May he rest knowing the good he invested in so many lives.”

Outside of Pacific, Benedetti chaired the Northern California Political Science Association and served on the California Council for the Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, where he championed grant proposals highlighting Central Valley writers. His advocacy helped launch the Highway 99 Project, which celebrated valley literature through an anthology, lecture series and reading and discussion group program spanning the Central Valley.

Benedetti, a native of San Francisco, received his bachelor’s degree from Amherst College, majoring in English and political science. He earned his master’s degree and doctorate in political science at the University of Pennsylvania.

Benedetti is survived by his wife of 58 years, Susan, and his daughter, Beth. 

A graveside service will be held at East Lawn Memorial Park at 4300 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, Friday, March 20 at 2 p.m. Gifts in his memory can be made to The Dean Robert Benedetti Memorial Scholarship Fund.