Benjamin “Benny” Andres Garcia, 70, of West New York, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on June 25, 2026. 

Born on November 24, 1955, in Queens, New York, to Carmen Bancroft and Andres Garcia, Benjamin led a life defined by service and dedication. He was a distinguished naval officer, a respected attorney, and a decorated diplomat whose work in the foreign service took him across the globe, with posts throughout Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Despite his professional accolades, Benny’s proudest accomplishment was the beautiful family he built with Coleta, the love of his life. He was fiercely proud of his children, Alejandro and Colette, and would share their achievements both big and small with anyone who would listen. Benny cherished his friendships and always found ways to stay in touch, with friends from grade school, college and throughout his career no matter where in the world he found himself.  

During his retirement, Benny could be found enjoying a good glass of wine, listening to jazz music, or diving deep into DNA research and genealogy. A passionate advocate for others, Benny also found ways to give back. As a proud veteran, he lobbied for congressional legislation to support service members exposed to hazardous waste in the Panama Canal and volunteered his legal expertise at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., to immigrants in need.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Coleta, their two children, Alejandro and Colette and brother Andres. Benny will be deeply missed and forever remembered for his vibrant love of life, a smile that could light up any room, and his boundless devotion to his family and friends. 

Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Mass at Good Shepherd Parish in Hopelawn, NJ on July 18, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., with a repast to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Lustgarten Foundation, a research organization dedicated to transforming pancreatic cancer into a curable disease -https://lustgarten.org/