Obituary of Robert Benjamin Hudson

September 20, 2026

Benjamin Hudson (87) died in September 2026 after a challenging two years navigating Parkinson’s disease.

Ben was fascinated by people. To his family and a small, loyal group of friends, he was also fascinating, as well as magnetic, discerning, and free-spirited.

Ben was intentional about how he spent his time. He made time to walk and read, covering countless New York City blocks and countless pages. A classical music and theater enthusiast, he was known to make four-mile treks to Lincoln Center for performances. Ben selected friends carefully and limited the time he spent gallivanting with them. Over salmon ecstasy cakes in his apartment, at restaurants around the city, and on long walks, he wanted all of the updates on all of his people and their people, and he wanted their takes on matters big and small — from world politics to unusual encounters with neighbors. He embraced friends’ partners and children of friends, trusting them as “good people,” inherently.

Up until the Covid-19 pandemic, Ben relished summers in rural Pennsylvania. Where he greeted neighbors, as well as neighborhood cows and horses daily on winding walks along country roads, and picked wild blueberries from an impressive patch. His 140 year old home there was camouflaged among beautiful plantings and wild, overgrown bramble and vines.

For a very long time, Ben enjoyed a sense of balance in his day to day life that few achieve.

His lifelong friend Jim observed that Ben had a childlike faith and manner of living. Ben embraced life. Ben loved playing and swimming with Jim’s kids who affectionately knew him as “Cannon Ball Hudson.”

Ben’s formative years were largely spent in Tampa, Florida alongside his siblings. He earned a BA from New York University, an MA from Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY), and was a graduate of the U.S. Army Information School, an education that prepared him for a long and global career in journalism and education.

Ben worked as a reporter and editor for English language newspapers in Athens, Greece, and Caracas, Venezuela. Stateside, he worked as an editor for The New York Times wire service, The St. Paul Dispatch and Pioneer Press. At The News Sun in Phoenix, Arizona, he worked as a general assignment reporter. He also worked in Japan, Korea and the Dominican Republic as a consultant for English language learning institutions.

For the last many decades of his life, Ben was an adjunct lecturer at Baruch College, part of the City University of New York. He taught courses in both the English and Journalism departments from 1992 until 2020, teaching thousands of students subjects including Business Communication, Editing and Copy Editing.

Behind the veil of anonymous reviews, students consistently expressed gratitude for Professor Hudson’s courses and style:

“Benjamin Hudson truly cares about the future of his students and will take time teaching you how to properly write business memos, resumes, and cover letters. Most students, including myself, complain that what we learn in school is not beneficial but this class is the exception!”

“Prof. Hudson gives great advice and is really funny (though it may not seem like it at first.) He prepares and provides students with connections to the business world.”

Accolades from his former students are easily found to this day. In so many ways, he helped countless students move forward in their education, careers and lives. His impact as an educator has been incalculable.

In his long and full life, Ben eased between thoughtfulness and impulsiveness, finding ways to be both in singular moments. Ben’s sister Beth vividly recalls Ben once taking the shirt off of his back for someone who needed it more.

Ben will be profoundly missed by those who knew him. And Cleveland Place in Lower Manhattan will miss a neighborhood fixture and friend.

Benjamin Hudson is preceded in death by father William C. Hudson, mother Lillian Fitch Hudson, Brother William E. Hudson and nephew, Lyle Hudson. He is survived by brother Bert (Ginger) Hudson, sister Beth Clark, plus nieces and nephews: Lea Ann Vlasek, Bill Hudson, Dan Hudson, Dave Hudson, Glyn Hughes, Robyn Puttick and Kristyn Irwin.

Since there will be no in-person service, Ben’s family suggests that you each do something to commemorate Ben’s having passed along your way during his lifetime. This could be anything from a meditation to a dance party, a pay-it-forward to help someone who needs it, or all of the above. Ben’s family hopes you will let out your joy in having known him — that’s what they will do. Ben, quietly but undoubtedly, was full of joy for having befriended you, spoken with you, learned from you, taught you, or just for having noticed something interesting about the way you passed by.

Please feel free to share in comments, including photos, on this Crestwood Cremation & Funeral Services, Manhattan, NYC webpage.

Ben supported Housing Works and the New York Public Library if you want to remember him through those organizations.