Obituary of John J. Bonacci

U.S. Army Veteran John J. Bonacci, Sr., age 90, of Bridgeport, died peacefully on Saturday, November 24, 2012 in St. Vincents Medical Center with his family by his side. Born in Carbondale, PA on May 26, 1922, he was a son of the late Angelo and Mary Cerra Bonacci. A decorated WW II U.S. Army veteran, he served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater of Operation in New Guinea, Philippine Islands, Okinawa and Japan. He was the former owner and operator of Main Auto Body in Bridgeport and was also a business partner at Ideal Auto Body of Bridgeport. At the age of 55, John retuned to Central Connecticut State University and received his teaching degree and taught in the auto workshop at Platt Technical School in Milford and Emmett OBrien Technical School in Ansonia for many years. He was a former president of the Fairfield County Auto Body Repair & Refinishers Association, served as director of the Auto Body Association of Connecticut, was a member of the Bethany Senior Citizens in Bridgeport, St. Patricks Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus and the Kennedy Center. John enjoyed watching the Yankees and the NY Giants and listening to music from Mario Lanza and from the big band era. He was a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather who cherished time with his family. John will truly be missed. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by a son, Robert Bonacci, brothers, Joseph and Basil Bonacci, and a sister Angela Puskar. Survivors include a son, John J. Bonacci Jr., and his wife Regina of Bridgeport, a daughter, Maria Gaines and her husband Raymond Sr., of Easton, and their mother Sadie Brooks Traskiewics of Bridgeport, five grandchildren, Raymond Jr., and Ryan Gaines and Matthew, Benjamin and Samuel Bonacci, a great grandson Raymond Gaines III; a brother, Anthony Bonacci and his wife Nina of Orange, brother-in-law John Puskar of Devon; sister-in-law, Marion Convertino of MA, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and great nieces and great nephews. Funeral Information Funeral services will take place on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 9 a.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull and at 10:00 a.m. in St. Andrew Church, Bridgeport for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment with military honors will follow in St. Michael Cemetery, Stratford. Friends may call on Tuesday from 4-8 pm. Donations Information In lieu of flowers, those desiring can make contributions to the St. Vincents Medical Center Foundation 2800 Main Street Bridgeport CT 06606 or the Connecticut Veterans Organization P.O. Box 1013, Middletown CT 06457.