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Chris Utter | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Benny Bufano tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Benny Bufano

Beniamino Benvenuto Bufano, 1898 - 1970
Born in San Fele, Italy and came to New York at age three.
Produced mostly granite sculptors, some of which can be found in and around the SF Bay Area.
g6/08/578308/3/79448060.pcjTXWiH.jpg Frog
Frog		 g6/08/578308/3/79448064.YWkCQ2eI.jpg Bear and cubs
Bear and cubs		 Universal Child
Universal Child
Universal Child
Universal Child		 Universal Child Plaque
Universal Child Plaque		 Chris taking photo of Red Cat, 1962
Chris taking photo of Red Cat, 1962

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Guest 06-May-2016 03:33
The bear came to be as a result of a visit to Benny Bufano's studio by our sixth grade class at Heights Elementary. One of the students, Billy McKee asked if Heights could get a bear for the school, the rest is history. See article and picture of the dedication ceremony in the Saturday Evening Post dated January 21, 1961. Pat Scott
Randy reeve 24-Aug-2014 02:51
I was the school safety patrol officer during the dedication,I opened the door for governor Edmund g. Brown's limo and escorted him to the speakers's podium.
Judy Lanter 09-Feb-2014 23:25
I was a part of that time capsule (cannot remember what I put in it though lol)...just wonder if they ever dug it up? Was it to be there for fifty years? Been I think, 62 years
Guest 21-Jun-2013 19:19
The bear at Heights Elementary was created by Bufano in the early 1960's in response to a campaign by the students and interested parents. The concrete was donated by a local contractor and Benny donated his work. The students filled the time capsule under the bear and the bear immediately became the school mascot. My late wife was a student at Heights at that time and said how great it was to meet Benny as they were almost the same size.
Frank Sayre 13-Jan-2012 18:26
Did mister Bufano have a daughter by the name of Donna?
I met her one time. She was lovely and engaging and she brought me by to meet her parents
This was back in 1967

Thank you
F. Sayre
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