Van Zandt, Benjamin P.

ALBANY- Benjamin P. Van Zandt, 21, passed away suddenly on October 30, 2014. He was the beloved son of Douglas P. Van Zandt and Alicia Barraza, and cherished nephew of Elizabeth Van Zandt. Benjamin was born in Renton, WA and moved to the Albany area in 1998. He attended Bethlehem High School and Bard College. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 75 for many years.

All of those that knew and loved Benjamin will remember him as a loving, caring, person, with a wonderful sense of humor. He loved music, movies, skiing, and reading and writing stories. He played the violin in the school orchestra for seven years. As a Boy Scout he went on many camping trips, including Philmont in New Mexico and Youth Leadership. In his youth he was a master Lego builder. His travels with his family took him to Las Vegas, Hawaii, London and Mexico.

In addition to his parents and aunt, he is survived by his grandfather, Joaquin Barraza Sr., and aunts Santa and Maggie, all of Kingsville, TX; his aunt Frances and uncle Frank of Austin, TX; his uncle Joaquin and aunt Maggie of Cedar Park, TX; his uncle Eloy and aunt Yvonne of Victoria, TX; and his uncle John of Las Vegas, NV. Benjamin was predeceased by his maternal grandmother, Frances Barraza, of Kingsville, TX, and paternal grandparents Burton and Sophie Van Zandt, of Guilderland, NY. Other survivors include numerous cousins.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 7, 2014 at 2 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Society at 405 Washington Ave. Albany, with a reception following the service. Relatives and friends are invited and may also call at the Daniel Keenan Funeral Home, 490 Delaware Ave., Albany on Thursday, November 6, 2014 from 3 to 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a contribution be made to any of the following: Citizens for Restorative Justice, PO Box 66, Gardiner, NY 12525, or NY NAMI, 99 Pine St., #302, Albany, NY 12207 or Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, 41 State St., #112, Albany, NY 12207.