Walter Bonner Obituary

Walter Bonner was faculty at New Bedford High School in New Bedford, MA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Walter Bonner.

School Role	Faculty
Date of Passing	Sep 08, 1998
About	NEWTON -- Walter W. Bonner, 87, who broke ground as one of the first black men to teach high school in New Bedford, died Tuesday at Newton Wellesley Hospital after a brief illness. A Renaissance man of his day, Mr. Bonner (pictured at right) combined a passion for teaching, music and tennis to leave a lasting and indelible impression on generations of students with whom he came into contact. “He was the best in so many ways,” said Mary Schwartz of Dartmouth, who developed the roots of a lifelong friendship with Mr. Bonner while a student in an adult music appreciation class he taught. “He was so knowledgeable, and wise, and talented. He was so many things,” she added. “I’ve known him for 60 years and it’s an era gone by.” A local expert on black history, last year he was honored as one of 17 people to receive Heritage Awards as part of the observance of Black History Month. The son of the late Frederick and Charlotte (Stokes) Bonner, the future head of the New Bedford High School English Department was born in Subic in the Philippine Islands, where his parents taught in government schools. He moved to New Haven, Conn., at an early age, but spent most of his life in New Bedford. His teaching career began at Roosevelt Junior High School, but he became one of the first black men appointed as a teacher at New Bedford High School after distinguished service in the Army during World War II. He was named head of the school’s English Department in 1961 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1973. He was also a longtime faculty athletic manager and tennis coach for the school. “He was an outstanding educator and a very personable man,” said retired school Superintendent Constantine Nanopoulos, who first met Mr. Bonner while a student, and later got to know him as a teacher and administrator. “He was a highly respected individual,” Mr. Nanopoulos said. “I think it was his commitment to education and the community.” “He always had a smile, was always very pleasant when you met him.” “He was a very fine gentleman as far as I am concerned,” said the Rev. Manuel Chavier of Fairhaven, who taught English at Normandy Junior High School when Mr. Bonnier was heading the English Department at New Bedford High School. “We often worked together going over English tracks,” said Rev. Chavier, who also served with Mr. Bonner on the Charles J. Lewin Scholarship Foundation. “He was always very interested in getting across the knowledge he had in the field he had become such an expert” he added. “He was a very interesting person and so highly educated,” said Lily Dumont, president of the Greater New Bedford Concert Series. “I would say he was one of our most respected and devoted members,” she said. “He loved music definitely, and tennis.” “Both gave his life a great deal of joy and pleasure.” He was a 1929 graduate of New Bedford High School. A lifelong bachelor, Mr. Bonner graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and later earned his master’s degree at Harvard University. For many years he served as vice president of the Greater New Bedford Concert Series, and sat on the board for the Center for Human Services and the Charles J. Lewin Scholarship Foundation. A brother, Frederick Bonner, and sister-in-law, Mabel Bonner, live in New Bedford. He is also survived by a niece and a nephew. He was the brother of the late Charles D. Bonner, Daisy Bonner and Gwendolyne E. Clements.