Marilyn Joan "Alkus" Bonomi

"All the world's a stage," and one of its brightest players hath taken her final bow. Marilyn Joan Alkus Bonomi (1943–2025)-lover of words, keeper of stories, and master of the quilting art-has made her gentle exit, stage left, and now journeys "to that undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns," where she shall find a merry meeting with her beloved father and brother.

Born in Philadelphia to Richard and Lillian Goldman Alkus, Marilyn-who much preferred the name "Mari"-graduated from Springfield Township High School (class of 1961) and Temple University (class of 1965), later earning a Master's degree in Developmental and Remedial Reading from Southern Connecticut State University.

For more than forty years, Mari taught at Amity Regional #5 High School in Woodbridge, Connecticut, shaping the minds and hearts of countless students. She taught English, Humanities, and even computer science, and was a guiding spirit behind The Trident (the school newspaper), student theater, and all manner of creative pursuits-even the enchanted worlds of Dungeons & Dragons. It was in these halls that Mari's love of Shakespeare deepened, and she became a true devotee of the Bard, inspiring others to "speak what we feel, not what we ought to say."

Upon retiring, Mari moved to Virginia's Northern Neck, where she embraced many roles: active citizen in local politics, stalwart of community theater, and faithful member of quilting guilds (including officer roles in the Tavern Quilt Guild). She made frequent journeys across the Blue Ridge Mountains to the American Shakespeare Center, where performances, panel discussions, and fellowship with fellow lovers of the stage became some of her greatest joys. She also wrote for local newspapers, promoting the arts, small businesses, and community life with her characteristic wit and grace.

Her pleasures were many: reading widely and deeply, quilting (and gathering fabric in noble abundance), watching birds upon the wing, rolling dice in tabletop adventures, and-never without humor-lamenting the absence of real pizza in Virginia.

In 2022, Mari returned to Connecticut to be near her family, greet her new grandson, and embrace true apizza once more. She settled in Windsor, joining quilting circles (including the Greater Hartford Quilt Guild), reuniting with old friends, and even embarking on fresh Dungeons & Dragons quests. For Mari, the adventure was never done.

She leaves behind a loving family who will miss her dearly: her daughter, Erica Bonomi Cookish and her husband, Eric Cookish, her grandson, Nathan Cookish, an extended family of in-laws who welcomed her as their own, old friends from her years in education, and many new friends made in her later life.

Mari is preceded in death by her father, Richard Alkus; her mother, Lillian Alkus; and her beloved brother, Stuart Alkus-whom she now joins in that far-off land where the table is ever laden with the finest pizza, laughter rings eternal, and many lap cats.

Come forth and celebrate Mari by bringing fond memories of your time with her to share on Thursday, August 28, 4-7 p.m., at the Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, 551 Talcottville Rd., Vernon.

While flowers are welcome, donations to the American Shakespeare Center (https://americanshakespearecenter.com/) would be greatly appreciated.