Lt Col. Dr. Richard M. Bonalewicz, USAF Ret.

Lt. Col. Dr. Richard M. Bonalewicz, USAF Ret. (70) lost his battle with lung cancer June 3, 2011. Survivors include his wife Marcia Will Bonalewicz, North East, daughters Joanna, NE, Kristal and Carrie, MD, and siblings SMSgt. Mathew A. Bonalewicz USAF Ret. and his wife CMSgt. Connie Bonalewicz USAF Ret., VA, Bob W. Bonalewicz, MA, Kathleen August and her husband, James, NV, and Marianne Bonalewicz, MA, and nieces and nephews Julie Bonalewicz Carpenter and husband Greg, OK, Lisa Bonalewicz Jabbour and husband Derek, MA, Donna Bonalewicz, OK, Rachel Bonalewicz, OK, Chris Nesbitt, VA, Aaron Nesbitt, VA, Stefanie Bonalewicz and Bobbyj Bonalewicz, MA and Dawn August, NV.

AFS sons and daughters include: Tak, Top, Tap, Pom, and Ju, Thailand; Ratri, Indonesia; Erik, Sweden; Pinar, Turkey; Benno, Austria; Akira, Japan; Mads, Denmark; Lucio, Brazil; Daan, Netherlands; Michael, Slovakia; Rodrigo, Paraguay.

Bonalewicz was an All-American athlete excelling in baseball, football and basketball. He attended Colby College (BS) ME, California State University at Sacramento, (Masters) and University of Oregon Eugene (PhD). He taught at SUNY Brockport, RIT, Gannon University and Mercyhurst College NE. He coached baseball at Brockport, RIT and Gannon.

He was an Air Force Navigator in Vietnam, a Reserve Liaison for the Air Force Academy, and a proud veteran. Bonalewicz was affiliated with numerous professional and coaching organizations, American Legion Post 105, and the local AFS organization as father and mentor to over 20 students from around the world.

An ardent traveler, he visited over 160 countries. Bonalewicz attended Tak, Ratri and Tap's weddings. He also visited AFS families in Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Brazil and Paraguay. He enjoyed time in the Dominican Republic. He recently discovered the luxury of the cruising lifestyle.

Friends will be received at the W. Tad Bowers Funeral Home, 92 South Lake Street, North East, PA on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. and are invited to attend a celebration of his life there on Thursday at 11 A.M.

The burial will be with honors at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations made payable to: Brockport Foundation: Golden Eagle Baseball Team and mailed to 350 New Campus Drive, Brockport, NY 14420, would be greatly appreciated. Please write "In memory of Coach Dick Bonalewicz" in the remarks section of the check.

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