In Memoriam Helen Delich Bentley
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Helen Delich Bentley, former Congresswoman, past Federal Maritime Commission chair and tireless champion of the port and maritime industries, passed away August 6 at her home in Timonium, Maryland. She was 92. The cause of death was brain cancer.
She was born November 28, 1923 in Ruth, Nevada. Early in life, she was attracted to journalism as a career.
Following graduation in 1944 from the University of Missouri, she worked as a reporter for various small-town newspapers before joining the Baltimore Sun in 1945. Soon thereafter, she was assigned a waterfront beat and quickly emerged as one of the nation’s leading maritime reporters, respected for her professionalism and above all her intimate knowledge of the Port of Baltimore and the public port industry in general. During the 1950s, she hosted a Baltimore TV program, "The Port That Built a City."
Appointed by President Nixon, she served as chair of the Federal Maritime Commission from 1969 to 1975. She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1984 from Maryland’s Second Congressional District and subsequently won re-election to four successive two-year terms. In 1994, she made an unsuccessful run for governor of Maryland.
In 1995, she established a consultancy, Helen Bentley & Associates. She served for many years as an advisor to the Maryland Port Administration, the state agency that owns and manages Baltimore’s public marine terminals.
In 2006, during its 300th anniversary celebration, the port was renamed the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore.
Her husband, William Roy Bentley, died in 2003.
Helen Bentley had a long and intimate professional relationship with the American Association of Port Authorities. Named an Honorary Member in recognition of her contributions and service, she regularly attended AAPA conventions and meetings until very late in her life.
Helen Bentley was a forceful maritime industry advocate, a wonderful, caring friend and an inspiring colleague. The AAPA family will sorely miss her.
Helen Delich Bentley
Photo/Maryland Port Administration
She was born November 28, 1923 in Ruth, Nevada. Early in life, she was attracted to journalism as a career.
Following graduation in 1944 from the University of Missouri, she worked as a reporter for various small-town newspapers before joining the Baltimore Sun in 1945. Soon thereafter, she was assigned a waterfront beat and quickly emerged as one of the nation’s leading maritime reporters, respected for her professionalism and above all her intimate knowledge of the Port of Baltimore and the public port industry in general. During the 1950s, she hosted a Baltimore TV program, "The Port That Built a City."
Appointed by President Nixon, she served as chair of the Federal Maritime Commission from 1969 to 1975. She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1984 from Maryland’s Second Congressional District and subsequently won re-election to four successive two-year terms. In 1994, she made an unsuccessful run for governor of Maryland.
In 1995, she established a consultancy, Helen Bentley & Associates. She served for many years as an advisor to the Maryland Port Administration, the state agency that owns and manages Baltimore’s public marine terminals.
In 2006, during its 300th anniversary celebration, the port was renamed the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore.
Her husband, William Roy Bentley, died in 2003.
Helen Bentley had a long and intimate professional relationship with the American Association of Port Authorities. Named an Honorary Member in recognition of her contributions and service, she regularly attended AAPA conventions and meetings until very late in her life.
Helen Bentley was a forceful maritime industry advocate, a wonderful, caring friend and an inspiring colleague. The AAPA family will sorely miss her.
Helen Delich Bentley
Photo/Maryland Port Administration
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