Bentley died last week at age 41 after being stricken with lung cancer.

"He was one of the brightest, most effective people I had working for me. He was brilliant, no question about it," Hatch said. "He was very dependable, very methodical, a perfectionist who I just grew to love as a human being."

Bentley spent 10 years as an attorney for the Senate Judiciary Committee, specializing in intellectual property issues. In 2003, he left the committee and was hired by Time Warner Inc., serving as vice president for intellectual property and global public policy.

He was married to Becky Daines Bentley and had two daughters, Kathryn and Samantha.

"He was just a great guy. It's just a shame," said Manus Cooney, a lobbyist who worked with Bentley on the Judiciary Committee. "I don't think he left the committee with a single enemy or critic."

Bentley received his bachelor's degree in English from Brigham Young University and a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School. He joined the Washington law firm Dow, Lohnes and Albertson before being hired as counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1993.

Bentley spent his last five years on the committee as chief intellectual property counsel, working on matters pertaining to patents, trademarks and copyrights.

"He didn't ruffle a lot of feathers. He was someone that everyone liked and you could count on him doing what had to be done and getting it done right," Hatch said.

Bentley enjoyed reading and playing guitar, according to his obituary.

"He valued creativity," Cooney said. "He loved Shakespeare. He loved heavy metal. What's important there is it demonstrates he recognized the importance of not being judgmental about creativity and the

importance of how art can shape and reflect the culture and values of that time and leave a legacy for future generations."

A funeral service will be held today in his Virginia church. Another memorial service will be held Oct. 10 in Provo, Utah.