Cornelius Joseph "Niel" Bonacum Jr.

1945 - 2022

Cornelius "Niel" Joseph Bonacum, Jr.
February 23, 1945 - March 30, 2022
Lexington, South Carolina - Cornelius "Niel" Joseph Bonacum, Jr., 77, passed away March 30, 2022, in Lexington, SC. He was born February 23, 1945, the fifth of five children, in Huntington, New York, to the late Cornelius Joseph Bonacum, Sr. and Dorothy Parkes Bonacum. He graduated from North Babylon Senior High School and married the late Nancy Lee Hoernel on August 14, 1965. He served in the US Army in 1970, and later worked as an air traffic controller in New York. His love of aviation would continue his whole life as he became a private pilot and certified flight instructor. He moved his family to South Carolina and established Manus Construction and Manus Real Estate, which began his career in real estate development. He developed numerous neighborhoods and subdivisions across Lexington County, and despite "retiring" twice, he also conceptualized and built Whiteplains Plantation (SC99), a unique airpark in Gilbert.
Niel lived life to the fullest as an entrepreneur running a successful business, an adventurer traveling the country by roads and sky, as a giver providing free air transportation for passengers in need of medical treatment through Angel Flight, and as a recognized public speaker with Toastmasters International. He was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Lexington, SC, and active in the local EAA 242 Chapter. Those who knew Niel knew he approached life with patience, persistence, and always a great sense of humor.
Niel is survived by his brother, Richard Bonacum (Barbara); his twin daughters, Cynthia Taylor (Robert) and Candice Escoe (Clint); grandsons, Nathaniel and Grant Escoe; daughter, Janine D'Eredita; granddaughter, Jessica Siachitano (Tim); grandson, Joseph Siegel; and many loved nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by his parents; wife of 49 years, Nancy Bonacum; daughter, Stacey Bonacum; sisters, Mary Barbara "Bonnie" Bonacum, Dorothy O'Brien Bachelor (Carl) and Kathleen Bonacum Meaney (James).
Many thanks are given to family, friends, and caregivers, especially the team at Agape Care Lexington Community Hospice House, for their constant compassion and kindness.
The family will have a private service in May and host a memorial gathering to celebrate Niel's life, family and accomplishments at Whiteplains Plantation the same month. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Niel's memory be made to The Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation (www.hpcfoundation.org) or the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) or The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. (www.guidedog.org).
Barr-Price Funeral Home and Crematorium, Lexington Chapel, is assisting the family.
Online register at barr-price.com