Bonnie Ann Passaro Zuckerman

ZUCKERMAN Bonnie Ann Zuckerman (Passaro),entered into eternal rest at the young age of 49 on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at the Saratoga Hospital after a year and half of a heroic and courageous battle with lung cancer. She was born December 3, 1960 in Derby, and was the daughter of Grace and Michael C. Passaro. Bonnie graduated from Shelton High after attending St. Ambrose Grammar School in Bridgeport. She went on to continue her education in hotel/motel management in Baltimore, Md. where she worked in a bartender managerial position for several years. She returned home to further her education and love for dance by attending the Hartford Conservatory of Dance and received an Associate Degree in Dance Pedagogy. She then joined the Sonia Plumb Modern Dance Company and preformed at Trinity College among other prestigious venues in dance and aerobic fitness. Later in life, Bonnie became interested in the medical field entering the Branford Hall Institute where she received her degree as a certified medical assistant. She served her one year internship at Yale Cardiology. In addition, she further obtained certificates in Phlebotomy, C.P.R., First Aid, and AED. Bonnie worked as the general manager in the Catering Department at the Pinecrest Country Club for almost 20 years and enjoyed dealing with people and especially children. Due to her love of all children, it pained her to see any of them in any type of pain so she made time in her busy life to volunteer at the Yale Pediatric/ER ward. She so enjoyed interacting with young children, that social directing for so many Corporate and family reunions became the high light in her day. Bonnie lived in Shelton most of her life up until about five years ago when she moved to the Saratoga Springs area in upstate N.Y. with her husband, Jon to build the home of their dreams. Before becoming ill, Bonnie worked at Saratoga Cardiology as a CMA for two years. Being a people person, she always put everyone first before herself. Bonnie lived a very active life, she taught religious classes at Sunnyside School and became a ballroom dancer, winning several first places in the Jive, Waltz, and Quick Step at the CT State Dance Challenge. She took this knowledge to enhance and expose children in the inner city schools and the blind, to the joy of dance. Bonnie also loved to sew, crochet, tend to her garden and plants, and also take lots of pictures to freeze these times, thus encapsulating these precious in the moment memories. Most of all, she enjoyed coming to Connecticut to spend time with her family. Everyone who came in contact with Bonnie was impressed with her vitality, cheerfulness and pure joy of life. She was exuberant, kind, and open to all that life had to offer. Bonnie's other love was for cats and she adopted three strays, Gracie, Ms. Zorro, and Smudge. These three precious cats she so loved and adored and they in turn loved her back, especially during her illness. Bonnie leaves behind her devoted and loving husband, Jon Zuckerman of Schuylerville, N.Y.; her mother, Grace Passaro of Milford; her father, Michael C. Passaro and Penny of Beacon Falls; her beloved sisters, Sheila Hill and husband, Leroy J. Maiers of Milford, and Cindy Bleau and husband, Eddie of Seymour; her two adored brothers, Michael C. Passaro Jr. and wife, Marli of Naugatuck, and Charles M Passaro of Shelton. Although Bonnie could not have children, she adored and loved dearly her nephews and nieces, Davey, Dean, Jacob, Zachery, Michelle, Kayla, and Kristen; and great-niece, Makaylah; Bonnie's husband's son, Adam Zuckerman and wife, Allyson Zuckerman of Shelton, and their children, Pamela and newborn son Jonathan; daughter, Amy Taylor and her husband, Ronnie Taylor of Hoboken, N.J.. and their newborn son, Henry. She was predeceased by her sister, Grace and niece, Becky Lynn. As per her wishes, there will be no wake. Friends and family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday the 16 of July at 11 a.m. at St. Margaret Mary's Church on 380 Long Hill Ave.Shelton. After the service, Bonnie will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery on River Road, Shelton. Friends and family are invited to a memorial reception following the services at John J. Sullivans, 557 Wakelee Ave., Ansonia, CT. Any donations should be made to the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute for Lung Cancer Research, 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02115-6084 in remembrance of Bonnie Zuckerman. The Riverview Funeral Home, 390 River Rd., Shelton are entrusted with the arrangements.