Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Justin was fascinated by animals. For years, he was obsessed with the idea of having pet geckos, turtles, frogs, and snakes (but this was vetoed by his mom). He loved to visit the Shedd Aquarium and Lincoln Park Zoo. He was also fascinated by the fossils at the Field Museum, but when he learned that dinosaurs were no longer alive, he decided that paleontology was not for him and that marine biology would be a better pursuit. While many children are fascinated by animals, Justin’s passion only grew with time.

In high school, Justin had his first taste of an environmental career. During a summer program at Brown University, Justin participated in conservation fieldwork and learned about how people can preserve nature. While attending USC, Justin studied environmental science. There, he worked on conservation initiatives with the Catalina Island Conservancy and conducted research on topics including animal morphology and behavior, spending time in the lab with treeshrews and primates. At USC, Justin could be seen pennyboarding around campus, probably on his way to a Dragon Boat racing practice (where he loved chance encounters with dolphins) or to get Boba and work at the community garden. 

While nature was Justin’s most significant passion, he devoted time to many interests. He loved playing the piano and viola. In high school, he was thrilled to get to tour around the US and Europe with the Midwest Symphony Orchestra. He also strove to make music accessible to others, raising funds for children who couldn’t afford instruments and playing at local nursing homes. His kindness and empathy were evident in every aspect of his life, shaping his journey and inspiring those around him.

Justin passed in his sleep from sudden cardiac arrest on September 7th, 2023. The Justin Benjamin Foundation was founded as a testament to the interests and strong values Justin cultivated.