Anthony J. BONO

BONO, Anthony J.

Anthony Joseph Bono, USN (ret), 88, of Quaker Hill, died Thursday at Fairview in Groton. He was born in Brooklyn, NY on May 24, 1925, the son of David and Anna O'Keefe Bono. He married the former Helen Clark in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 31, 1946. She predeceased him in 1996. He joined the Navy in 1942, shortly after turning 17. During WWII he was a corpsman with a Marine unit in the South Pacific. During his Naval career, he also was a deep sea diver and instructor at the Sub School in Groton. He retired as a Senior Chief in 1966 to work for the City of New London as a Sanitarian. He retired from the City of New London after 23 years and started work for the Town of Stonington until his final retirement at the age of 79. He was very active in the Knights of Columbus, Seaside #17 in New London, Retired Armed Forces Association, Fleet Reserve, St. Mary Star of the Sea Church and School, and St. Bernard High School. He was a past board member of New London Youth Football, Norwich Diocese Board of Education and St. Mary Parish Council, and President of the Eastern Connecticut Football Officials. He coached New London Babe Ruth Baseball and was an official of fast pitch softball and basketball at the Sub Base. Anthony and Helen were long time members of St. Bernard's Booster Club and were both inducted into St. Bernard's Athletic Hall of Fame. After his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers moved from Brooklyn, he was an avid fan of the NY Mets, the NY Football Giants and Navy football. He is survived by 3 sons, David Bono of New London, Robert Bono (Doreen) of Waterford, William Bono (Sharon) of Waterford: 2 daughters Nancy Bono of New Britain, Susan Noonan (James) of North Stonington; a sister, Margaret Mary Lee of Florida; and 8 grandchildren: Inda Watrous (Thomas Hinchey); Michael, Robert, Jaclyn, and Lisa Bono; Kathleen and Elizabeth Noonan; Jordan Bono and numerous nephews and nieces who were close to him. He was predeceased by his brothers David and Thomas Bono.
The funeral will assemble at 10:15am Tuesday at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave, New London, and proceed to a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11am in St. Joseph Church, New London. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery. Calling hours are Monday from 6-8pm. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Rd, #300, Jacksonville, FL 32256 www.woundedwarriorproject.org. Condolence messages may be left on Mr. Bono's memorial page at www.neilanfuneralhome.com.