Naval Academy Alumni Leading the Way in Service to Widowed Americans (Bentley '79, Scherf '69)

Two United States Naval Academy graduates — separated by a decade at Annapolis but united by a lifetime commitment to service — are leading a national nonprofit dedicated to helping America's widowed population navigate financial challenges.

Christopher D. Bentley, USNA Class of 1979, graduated with distinction with a BS in Oceanography before serving more than 14 years on active duty as a Naval Flight Officer in the P-3 community. After transitioning to the private sector, he held corporate leadership roles at Pepsi and Coca-Cola before building a career in financial services. He holds the CFP®, CLU®, and CRPC® designations along with an MBA from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. Bentley founded Wings for Widows in 2018 after witnessing the financial struggles widowed individuals face following the loss of a spouse. He is the author of multiple books on financial planning for widowed individuals and serves as a columnist for the Financial Planning Association’s The Journal of Financial Planning. Under his leadership as Executive Director, Wings for Widows has grown into a national organization serving more than 100,000 individuals every year. Bentley and his wife split their time between Sarasota, FL, and Wayzata, MN.

Paul H. "Hank" Scherf, USNA Class of 1969, assumed the role of Chairman of the Board on January 1, 2026. A distinguished graduate of the Naval Academy with a BS in Aerospace Engineering, Scherf served 10 years on active duty as a naval aviator—including service during the Vietnam War and an assignment as an engineering instructor at the Academy, where he co-authored a weapons systems engineering textbook. He continued his service with 20 years in the Naval Reserve, retiring at the rank of Captain. Scherf went on to a 24-year career in Silicon Valley's high-tech industry as a vice president of sales at multiple telecommunications companies, followed by 20 years as a Certified Financial Planner®. He holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University. A lifelong champion of community service—with 35 years of nonprofit board leadership in Northern California, eight years as a San Mateo County Veterans Commissioner, and recognition for 35 years of volunteer service to the Boy Scouts of America—Scherf and his wife reside in Scottsdale, Arizona.

"The values instilled at Annapolis—duty, honor, service—stay with you for life," said Bentley. "With Hank's leadership on our board, Wings for Widows has two graduates committed to that mission: serving others when they need it most."

Wings for Widows connects widowed individuals with volunteer Certified Financial Planner® professionals who provide free, personalized financial guidance during one of life's most difficult transitions. Bentley, known as the Widow Whisperer, acquired the Widowers Support Network in 2024 and founded WidowWise University in 2025. He has dedicated his life to serving the widowed community.

To learn more, volunteer or donate, visit wingsforwidows.org.

Go Navy.

BZ '79 and '69!