Benjamin David Padovich

Benjamin (Ben) David Padovich, 34, of West Valley City, Utah peacefully graduated from this experience called mortality on September 3, 2014.

He was born May 5, 1980 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Darlene Head and David Scott Padovich. He was so excited to come into this school on earth; he was born 6 weeks early, literally feet first, and jumped into life with passion and excitement. Because he was born 05-05-80 and weighed 5 lbs. 5 oz. he always claimed the number 5 was his number.

Benjamin graduated from Granite School District with his high school diploma, received an AS degree in Computer Science from Salt Lake Community College, and earned his BS in Networking and Computer Technology from Western Governors University.

One of Benjamin’s many passions was computer science. He was in preschool when he received his first diploma in computer studies. By the time he was 13 he’d taken to bringing stacks of computer science books home to study. We didn’t even own a computer at the time. Benjamin was brilliant with computers and had the ability to see solutions no one had considered. It wasn’t odd for Ben to call a company to explain how he had solved an issue they didn’t have a fix for yet. He was always willing to assist others with their computer problems and a variety of other challenges.

When he was 14 he got his first job selling candy door to door. At 17 he began his professional career in computers and support as IT Support and then Coordinator of the CAD Labs at Salt Lake Community College.

His favorite job, however, was with the Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake County. He started part-time as a member of the Floor Staff and then as the full-time Information Systems Technician. His enthusiasm for service and problem solving (especially computer-related) made him a favorite among his co-workers. During his four years at Clark Planetarium, he received many awards and acknowledgements for his work. He was awarded Star of the Month twice, as well as the monthly Customer Service award. In addition, he was one of only three people presented with Salt Lake County’s Customer Service Hero award.

At the Planetarium Benjamin was truly in his element. He loved his job and the people he worked with. He had a knack for making everyone feel like their request was important and he always took the time to teach you how to solve the problem yourself whenever he could. He had presented at his first conference in Denver, Colorado recently and was excited about doing it again. His career had just begun to take off. Now, he isn’t just traveling across the country, he is traveling the Universe.

Benjamin attended the Impact Trainings in April 1995 and is Lift Off 86. He is a Powerful, Unconditionally Loving, Forgiving Man of Light. As a member of Impact Training’s Life Mastery 3, he was an outward focused, wise, deeply spiritual man. He lived his life with passion, joy, and authenticity. The training served to provide the foundation for a life he lived to the fullest. Because of what he learned as a result of taking on his life, Benjamin healed and created relationships built on trust, acceptance, and joy. He saw the world through the eyes of a giver and the world is a better, brighter place because he let his light shine.

Benjamin loved his Grandmother and Granddad Head deeply. He assisted in transplanting some of his grandfather’s raspberries and flowers to our new home and tended them with love because that is the way he had been taught by his grandparents. He knew they loved him, and he loved them. Always kneeling at their feet to give them a hug when they visited was his special way to acknowledge them for who they are.

Letting his mother know of his love was also important to him. He assisted her joyfully with the yard work, keeping the computers in the house working for her, setting her up with the latest and greatest in technology. Two days before he crossed, he let her know how much he loved her and that he knew she was so powerful she could do anything she committed to.

Benjamin had a special relationship with his niece Kaitlyn. From the day she was born he always made time for her. She could talk to him about anything. He was a wonderful example and empowered her to be her best self. His last act before he left this third dimensional experience was to call Kaitlyn and ask about her day. In her words, “We said all the things I would have wanted to say. We got to say I love you and good bye.”

Ben lived his life as who he is created to be. He demonstrated that powerful people empower others. His unconditional love blurred the lines between his family and friends. He had a way of being larger than life and nothing has changed. Ben always seemed to be in a hundred different places at once. Now he truly is here, there, and everywhere. He is at peace and joyfully embracing this next step in his schooling. He was the first in our family to graduate and he is excited about that. He had the biggest heart and was willing to assist and make friends with anyone. He is so loved and will be missed by many people from all walks of life. We have received hundreds of messages sharing how he has touched, inspired and been in service. His last earthly act of service was to be an organ and tissue donor. His gift will touch the lives of people around the world.

He is survived by his parents Darlene S Head and David Scott Padovich; sisters Emma Padovich and Alicia Padovich and brother Daniel Padovich; beloved niece Kaitlyn Padovich; Grandparents, Harry and Beverly Head, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. His sister Cassandra (Cassie) Padovich and grandparents Joe and Melba Padovich precede Ben in death.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Copper Hills 8th Ward LDS Chapel, 4195 S. 6000 W. West Valley. Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday morning from 9:30-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Malad City Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations can be made at any Mountain America Credit Union “Remembering Benjamin Padovich Fund” to help with final expenses.