Benny Dagostino, the town’s longest continually operating Realtor, died Sunday just days shy of his 95th birthday. Dagostino opened Benny’s Real Estate in 1952, where he was later joined in business by his son Ben Jr. Those who knew the elder Dagostino through the real estate community recalled a man with an unwavering work ethic, reportedly still making phone calls the week before his death, and a passion for sales.

“Benny was a real natural salesman,” said Exeter Realtor Dottie Milbury, who got her start in real estate 53 years ago working for him. “Benny was just very, very enthusiastic about his work, and about people.” Milbury was working as a dental assistant when she got her real estate license. Benny, a patient at the office, told her he was opening a new real estate business and asked her to come work there. She worked for him for 18 years before starting her own business.