MV man dies in motorcycle crash MV man dies in motorcycle crash (August 27, 2004)

'Benji' Cantwell a musician, leader in family church

By Jon Wiener

Mike Cantwell remembers his youngest son Benji holding up his most recent album, "Questions to Your Answers," and declaring that it was how people would remember him. At his memorial service on Aug. 26, the music will serve as a tribute to a life of Christian service cut short by a tragic motorcycle crash.

Benjamin "Benji" Cantwell, 25, was riding his 2004 Kawasaki motorcycle with a group of friends on Highway 84 near La Honda on Sunday. Cantwell and Roy Stephens, Jr., 36, of San Jose were leading a pack traveling westbound when they came around a turn and slammed into a Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck that was facing sideways on the road. The force of the collision ejected both men from their motorcycles, killing Cantwell and causing major injuries to Stephens' back and neck, according to California Highway Patrol officers.

The driver of the truck, Michele Bellamy, 52, of La Honda, was taken to a hospital for precautionary measures.

Benji Cantwell was the youngest son of Mountain View residents Mike and Maria Cantwell. He graduated from Mountain View High School in 1996, where he starred as a linebacker on a football team that was runner-up in the Central Coast Section playoffs

He followed his brothers Tim and Joshua to St. Mary's College, where he decided he would dedicate his life to music and the ministry. His final high school football game, a loss to Los Gatos, inspired him to write one of his first songs about his decision to live for God and not himself, called "Help Me Die." Benji eventually completed several albums, which are for sale at www.benjicantwell.org.

According to his father, Benji began performing in musicals as an eight-year-old. "He would walk around the house and just start singing. We'd laugh, but there was something inside of him that we knew had to come out," said Mike Cantwell.

One of his major musical influences was Keith Green, a Christian music star who died in a plane crash at age 27. "Little did we know," said Mike, his voice breaking. "God's got another singer in heaven."

Benji was the praise and worship leader at Harvest Christian Center, the Redwood City evangelical congregation his parents founded 10 years ago where they are still pastors. He also worked as a certified trainer at 24-Hour Fitness.

"He had a lot of irons in the fire," said his father. "His life was just beginning." In the few days since Benji's death, his friends from many walks of life have visited his family to share stories of how he influenced their lives, Mike added.

Benji Cantwell will be interred at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto on Aug. 26, followed by a 7 p.m. memorial service at Jubilee Christian Center at 175 Nortech Parkway in San Jose. The service will feature video clips of Benji singing. His producer, Randy Emata, will play a piano accompaniment to the title song from Benji's album "Questions to Your Answers."

"It's going to be a lot of tears," said Mike.

He added, "I'm going to make a special effort Thursday night to pray for the woman who drove the truck. Whether it's a mistake or not, I don't want her to carry that around for the rest of her life."

Donations can be sent to the Benji Cantwell Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 1236, Mountain View, CA 94042.

E-mail Jon Wiener at jwiener@mv-voice.com

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