Not many graduates can bounce their voices off the walls of Elliott Hall of Music. But John Bently (LA’55) can. In fact, the dramatic baritone has bounced his voice off walls all over the world.

Initially, Bently enrolled at Purdue for its engineering program, but his heart belonged to music. Growing up in Oak Park, Illinois, with his aspiring concert pianist sister, Bently was exposed to classical music on a daily basis. “Former Lyric Opera of Chicago performer Lola Fletcher vocally coached me when I was at Oak Park High School,” he says. “Then I decided I had to sing with the Purdue Varsity Glee Club.”

Bently auditioned for Glee Club director Al Stewart in 1951 and was immediately accepted. “The spring show in 1952 was Of Thee I Sing, and I got the lead,” Bently relates proudly. “I also started a quartet for Stewart called the Purduesiers.” The Glee Club was a fantastic training ground for Bently, who sang 40–50 hours every week. It was a tremendous commitment, and he loved every minute of it. What college student wouldn’t be thrilled to perform as a headliner at prestigious locales such as the Canadian National Exhibition? Needless to say, Bently changed his major to speech dramatics.

After graduating, Bently became a convocation soloist for Loyola University and performed for 10 years at graduation ceremonies, masses, and special events. Venues included iconic Chicago spaces like McCormick Place, the Medinah Temple, and the Madonna della Strada Chapel.

Then, Bently met Gloria Lind, whose impressive professional résumé included singing stints with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. “Gloria coached me for four years,” he says. Discovering they were a marvelous match, the two married in 1971. They traveled all over Europe in the late ’60s and ’70s, performing in operas such as A Masked Ball, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Carmen. They visited both sides of the Iron Curtain, rubbing elbows with the elite in Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia.

Raising a daughter, the Bentlys decided to stay closer to home. In 1962, Bently read a book about building swimming pools and constructed one in his backyard. One thing led to another, and, in 1971, the Bentlys opened a residential swimming pool and spa company, Carefree Pools. The venture went swimmingly. “Gloria always had the gift of gab,” says Bently. “We went on sales calls together, and she was always impeccably dressed.”

Sadly, Gloria passed two years ago. But, spry and still singing, 85-year-old Bently continues to be involved with Carefree Pools and enjoys spending time with his five children, 10 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.