Raphiel J. Benjamin

Raphiel Jacques Benjamin, MD, was born April 14, 1938 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Herbert and Lou Audrey Benjamin. He was preceded in death by his brother Herbert Jr, and sister Joan, as well as his grandson Nate (2014), his daughter Jill (2018), and grandson Luke (2024).

Raphiel is survived by Karen, his beautiful, brilliant, and loving wife of 62 years, his two sons Raphiel Jr (Pam) and Richard and three fantastic grandchildren, Chloe, Dakotah and Lily. There are also five gorgeous and brilliant great-grandchildren Ben, Mabel, Hazel, Alana and Ari Benjamin. He is also survived by his beloved niece Clem Goldberger.

He graduated from Louisiana State University and LSU Medical School in 1963. Following his internship, he was drafted into the US Army and stationed at Sandia Base in Albuquerque, NM.

In 1965, Raphiel was sent to Vietnam where he served as a Battalion Surgeon with the 101st Airborne Division. It was during this time that he was awarded the Combat Medical Badge, Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valor with oak leaf cluster, and the Army Commendation Medal for Valor.

Following discharge, he completed a Radiology Residency at Baylor in Houston, and in 1970, he and his family moved to Santa Fe, NM where he practiced at St. Vincent’s Hospital and the Santa Fe X-ray Lab until his retirement in 2004. During his active practice years, he served as President of Medical Staff, and also as President of Santa Fe Radiology. Raphiel also served on the Board of the Orchestra of Santa Fe, including as President of the Board. He served for many years as a member of the board and President of The Vietnam Project.

Raphiel and Karen worked weekly with Kitchen Angels delivering meals to needy clients in Santa Fe for nearly 20 years. He also established a long running monthly luncheon with vets, and worked with Hank Hughes of the New Mexico Coalition to End Veteran Homelessness.

He and Karen were avid bicyclists both around Santa Fe and the US, and enjoyed a very memorable bike trip to Vietnam in 2000. Skiing and tennis were also high on their recreational list, as well as family hiking and backpacking trips. After retirement, he became a bookbinder, concentrating on family genealogy and political commentary.

In 2014, Raphiel was diagnosed with a progressive disease which gradually slowed him down, but did not destroy his spirit. Raphiel died on March 24, 2025 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He will be remembered as a smart, humorous, great looking, and caring person dedicated to his patients when he was practicing medicine, and dedicated to his family and friends his entire life. He and Karen had a deep and long lasting love.

Memorial service to be held at Rivera Funeral Home on May 16, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. and burial to follow at Santa Fe Memorial Gardens Cemetery.