Dave Benko

Benko was an accomplished fencer who earned four varsity letters on Wayne State University’s men’s fencing team. Additionally, he set two NCAA national records and competed in four Summer Olympic Games.

Benko, a longtime New Canaan resident, spent over 50 years as the Recreation Director. Additionally, he founded the travel soccer program and served on numerous committees throughout his career.

Early Life and Education

Benko’s upbringing was not easy. He was born in Cluj, Transylvania and his parents divorced when he was four. For part of his childhood, he lived with his mother who operated an underground railroad system to assist and hide those fleeing Romania’s communist regime.

He went on to study film in college, but couldn’t shake the pull of neon signs. So in 1988 he embarked on a six-month apprenticeship with legendary neon sign maker Ron Cole – an intense learning curve but one he was determined to conquer.

Professional Career

David Benko is an experienced technology and product development executive, possessing over a decade of expertise. He assists companies in designing and implementing comprehensive application ecosystems for enterprise use.

His career has seen him work for some of the world’s largest financial institutions and corporations, such as Capital One, MasterCard, and Schneider Electric. Additionally, he has extensive expertise in infrastructure finance and international development.

He previously served as deputy director of athletics and chief financial officer at Mississippi State University, and will begin his new position as Georgia Southern’s athletic director on Monday, March 9.

Achievement and Honors

Benko earned four varsity letters as a foilist on Wayne State’s men’s fencing team and set two NCAA records while there. Additionally, he competed in the Summer Olympic Games.

He achieved undefeated status during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons of collegiate competition. His 290-1 dual record in foil is truly remarkable!

He won four times the Great Lakes Fencing Championship and was part of Wayne State University’s first-ever national fencing championship team in 1975. All-America first team fencer in each year of competition, he earned his place on this All-America first team for four years.

Personal Life

Benko had a distinguished career in New Canaan, serving as recreation director, fire chief and youth sports referee and coach. Additionally, he worked behind the scenes to ensure events such as the Fourth of July picnic and fireworks at Waveny Park ran seamlessly.

Benko dedicated his career to serving his community. He served on committees for New Canaan High School’s Dunning Stadium and Waveny Pool, among others.

Dave benko was not only a dear friend, but an accomplished and creative individual with an immense impact on his community. His legacy stands as testament to his unyielding dedication and hard work – we will all miss him dearly. Thanks to Dave’s contributions, New Canaan is now a better place for everyone thanks to him.

Net Worth

Dave Benko is an American television personality and commentator with a net worth of $5 million. He gained notoriety as a commentator on Fox News Channel and The View.

He is the co-president of Miller Buckfire, a New York-based firm that specializes in financial restructuring. For his efforts, he has earned multiple awards such as being named Restructuring Investment Bank of the Year at the Turnaround Atlas Awards 2023.

After filing for bankruptcy, the city hired mediation experts to guide it through a restructuring process. During that time, its advisers agreed to reduce their bills by millions of dollars – though exact figures weren’t immediately available at press time.