Tony Bennett, the legendary jazz singer, passed away at the age of 96, leaving behind a legacy that spanned over seven decades. His wife, Susan Benedetto, was by his side during his final moments, providing comfort and care as his health rapidly declined.

Before Bennett launched his illustrious career in show business, he served his country in the European theater during the last stages of World War II. Drafted into the U.S. Army at the age of 18 in 1944, Bennett was sent to fight on the front lines following heavy casualties suffered by the Allied Forces at the Battle of the Bulge. His wartime experiences, which he described as a "front-row seat in hell," shaped the rest of his life and instilled in him a deep sense of empathy and justice.

In his 1998 autobiography "The Good Life," Bennett recounted his harrowing wartime experiences, including the liberation of a concentration camp south of the Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany. The sight of the desperate faces and empty stares of the prisoners left an indelible mark on him. This experience drove him to become a civil rights activist who later marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. at Selma.

After the war, Bennett was transferred to a Special Services unit to entertain the remaining Allied soldiers. It was during this time that he began singing with the 314th Army Special Services Band under the name Joe Bari. A week after Bennett was demoted for having Thanksgiving dinner with a Black soldier, a colonel sent him to an orchestra, where he continued performing as Joe Bari. After the war, Bennett would again encounter legendary entertainer Bob Hope, who gave him the stage name Tony Bennett.

In 1946, Bennett sailed home to New York and was honorably discharged. He felt "like a completely different person" when he first stepped back onto American soil. He was more empathetic and thankful to be alive. His keen sense of justice and injustice was heightened after what he had witnessed during the war.

In 2021, Bennett revealed that he had been living with Alzheimer's for five years since 2016. Despite his diagnosis, Bennett managed to hold onto his abilities to speak, understand, and recognize his family members. His condition was even more remarkable as he could still remember the lyrics of songs and sang them out loud. His wife, Susan, stated, "Singing is everything to him. Everything. It has saved his life many times."

Bennett's death marks the end of an era, but his music and the impact of his life's journey will continue to inspire generations to come. His dedication to his craft, his service to his country, and his unwavering commitment to justice and equality are a testament to his extraordinary life.