Benjamin Soriano Sotelo

Benjamin was born in Manila, Philippines on October 22, 1928 to parents Tomas and Gregoria. He was brother to older sister Teresita and younger sisters Magdalena, Purificacion, and Lourdes. He graduated from the University of the East in Manila, Philippines in 1953 and subsequently joined the US Army. He was stationed in Guam and Hawaii prior to moving to Indiana to further his studies. He moved to Washington DC in 1959 where he began work as an accountant with Smulkin, Barsky, Hoffman and Denton and where he also met his wife, Shirley Lindsay. They married in October 1960. Benjamin continued his studies and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1967. He started his tenure as an accountant with the International Monetary Fund in February 1970 where he worked until his retirement in 1987. In retirement he used his expertise to do taxes for longtime clients until the early 2020s.

Benjamin is survived by his wife and four children: Benjamin Jr (Christine), Theresa (Thomas H), Thomas (Martha), and John (John H); his five grandchildren: Alex, Sarah (Kerigan), Dominic, Anna (James), and Noah; as well as his one great granddaughter (Charlotte).

Benjamin was a true partner to his wife Shirley. You rarely saw one without the other. So much so that many local establishments knew them by name and were always surprised, and maybe a little concerned, if one came in without the other. They were a true pair.
A strong proponent of education, Benjamin ensured his children had a head start in adult life by providing them educational and cultural opportunities. As he always said, knowledge is key.

Benjamin, one to never stay still, was always on the go. Whether it be making runs to McDonalds for senior coffees for him and Shirley or taking trips to Charles Town to try his luck.

Benjamin will be missed, but not forgotten as we will always have memories of him in his driving cap with an unforgettable smile and twinkle in his eye.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Benjamin’s memory to the American Kidney Fund (www.kidneyfund.org).