Richard Bondi

KITTERY, N.H. - Richard (Dick) Bondi died peacefully in his Kittery home Friday, Feb. 16, surrounded by his family. He was 80.

Dick was born and raised in the Bronx, New York City, and worked as a tradesman in New York and California. After moving to New Hampshire, he worked for the IRS, where he met Ursula -- his wife, dance partner and best friend. They marked their 40th wedding anniversary on Valentine's Day.

Dick also worked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the Delahaye Group, and, after retiring, part-time at the Spinnaker Point Recreation Center. .

Besides Ursula (Rohrbacher) Bondi, other surviving family members include Kim Foley, her daughters and grandson, Jessica, Diana and Chase Foley; and Mark and Andrea Rohrbacher and their children, Justin and Tyler.

A devoted and extremely knowledgeable jazz fan, Dick loved to tell the story of going repeatedly to New York's Five Spot in late 1957 to hear Thelonius Monk's band when it included John Coltrane. "Dick lived the history of his favorite music," says jazz guitarist Ken Ormes. "He told me he once had to hurriedly hustle a fellow out of a nightclub to keep him from stabbing (trumpet player) Chet Baker who was on the bandstand."

Dick and Ursula loved to dance – swing, salsa, ballroom. During winters spent in Vero Beach, Fla., they often danced to live bands several mornings a week. Nights might find them dancing again or just listening to live music.

Although he attended Queens College, Dick was deeply self-taught in history, music, politics, languages and philosophy. "I found him once poring over a book of commentaries about Nietzsche written in Italian with an Italian-English dictionary beside him," recalled one of Dick's friends.

Well into his 70s, Dick decided he wanted to learn to play the saxophone – and how to tap dance. He did both with enthusiasm and good humor.

"Dick's generosity and warmth is legend," said Ormes. "He could make anyone not only comfortable, but a friend for life."

There are no official services scheduled at this time. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.jspelkeyfuneralhome.com . Care for the Bondi family has been entrusted to the JS Pelkey Funeral Home.