Valley hospital says it will miss Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington
Jul 21, 2017, 5:30 PM | Updated: Jul 24, 2017, 8:25 am
(Photo by Paul A. Hebert/Invision/AP, File)
PHOENIX — A Valley children’s hospital said it will miss one of its favorite volunteers: Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington, who took his own life this week.
Banner Foundation President and CEO Andy Kramer Petersen said Bennington and his wife, Talinda Ann Bentley, were a good influence on the patients at Banner Children’s at Cardon Children’s Medical Center.
“Just being there for them,” she said.
Petersen said Bennington and his wife were always generous with everything, including photographs and autographs. But most importantly, they were very giving when it came to time spent with patients.
“Always kind and willing to spend as much time with a patient or their family until they were done talking,” she said.
Petersen said Linkin Park played at several fundraising galas for the hospital, including those for the neonatial intensive care units and the music therapy programs.
“Volunteer his talent — his singing talent — at a fundraiser we had to benefit Cardon Children’s Medical Center,” she said.
In a statement, the hospital said it was “deeply sorry to learn of Chester’s passing. Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time.”
Bennington passed away Thursday.
The singer, a Phoenix native, had struggled with drugs and alcohol from a young age. He also had talked about committing suicide in the past because of alleged abuse he suffered as a child.
He was survived by Bentley and his six children from two marriages.
KTAR News’ Ali Vetnar contributed to this report.