Vincent Stanley Benfell III
Vincent Stanley Benfell III died unexpectedly on 7 September 2026 at the age of 63, leaving a legacy of love, faith, learning, and friendship. Stan, as everyone knew him, was born to Stan (Vincent Stanley Jr.) and Kay Benfell in Salt Lake City, Utah, and grew up in Salt Lake City, Hawaii, and New Jersey, where Stan graduated from New Providence High School. As a young man, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Paris, France. He earned his BA at BYU, then went to NYU for his MA and PhD degrees in Comparative Literature.
While at BYU, Stan met the love of his life, Leslie Cantwell, and after he demonstrated he was a suitable match, the two were married in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived in New York City and Florence, Italy, before returning to Utah when Stan became a faculty member at BYU, his alma mater. Stan and Leslie welcomed three beautiful children, Grace (born in 1994), Matthew (1996), and Frances (2002). Stan later served as Bishop of the Oak Hills 4th LDS Ward.
As a BYU faculty member, Stan continued his scholarship of late medieval and Renaissance Literature and taught courses in Comparative Literature and Humanities. He was Chair of the Department of Humanities, led several Study Abroad Programs–most recently to London in the Summer Term of 2026–and was appointed as the Associate Director and then Director of BYU’s David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies. Stan loved to cycle, play tennis, hike, attend sporting events, and engage in outdoor activities of all kinds.
Stan was a beloved husband, father, leader, and friend. We will miss his deep faith, his lovely singing voice, his fundamental goodness, his love, and his friendship.
Stan is survived by Leslie and their three children as well as his mother, four siblings, and countless friends.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, 12 September at 11:00 AM. at 925 N. Temple Drive, Provo, Utah. The service will be preceded by a viewing from 9:00 – 10:30 AM.
A graveside service will be held at the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Tuesday, 15 September. To view services virtually, please visit Stan’s obituary at www.larkinmortuary.com and click the “watch services” button.