A native of Western New York, Dr. Bench received a Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY at Buffalo, and a Bachelor of Science in Visual Science and Doctorate in Optometry from the Southern California College of Optometry. He returned to Western New York after college and has been practicing here for 34 years. He has also been an optometric consultant for the Blind Association of Western New York and at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center. Dr. Bench is a licensed foster care parent, and has fostered many teens over the last 20 years. For 25 years, Dr. Bench sang as a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, and served many terms as a board member and president of that organization. He has also appeared in numerous community theater productions. Dr. Bench currently lives in East Amherst with his two sons. Little known fact: While living in California, Dr. Bench worked in the character Department at Disneyland walking the park and greeting guests as Brier Bear and Baloo!