Honored for the "$18,000 Miracle in Naperville," Benedetti has been a long-standing notable alumnus of North Central College alongside Don Deetjen '66. Larry Gregory '51, Dick Wehrli '56 and a substantial number of others as the College's stadium was reconstructed.
Benedetti graduated from North Central in 1948 with a degree in chemistry, but his graduation didn't keep him away from his institution. After a flood destroyed the stadium in 1996. Benedetti and Wehrli led the efforts in repairing it. The new stadium not only serves as a venue for sporting events, but houses classrooms, offices and the Dyson Wellness Center. He and Wehrli were inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same year.
"Few figures have had more impact on the North Central College physical campus in the past half century than Al, and his role in Naperville over this period … has been equally significant," Harold R. Wilde, former North Central College president, said, "his generous spirit, his love of the College and its athletic program since his own participation on Cardinal baseball and football teams following World War II made Al a one-of-a-kind cheerleader for his alma mater."
The “18,000 Miracle in Naperville” that created the former stadium with sweat equity and donated materials and services, to his role as one of the angels responsible for today’s $6 million Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium; a star on the championship 1946 and 1947 football teams; played in the Corn Bowl in 1947; life trustee of the College; with his friend and special inductee Dick Wehrli, recipient of the College’s Gael D. Swing Award for Meritorious Service in 1999. On May 3, 2012, Al Benedetti passed away at the age of 88.
