Mr. LeRoy Eugene Bonaparte

LeRoy Eugene Bonaparte passed away peacefully at home on December 26, 2015 at the age of 74. He was one of two children born to the late LeRoy and Celestine Bonaparte. LeRoy graduated from Howard Taft High School in 1959 and later from New York Technical Community College. In 1962, he met and married Barbara Culliton. This marriage resulted in four children, three daughters and one son.

LeRoy was an experienced and avid boater for most of his life with a passion for the sea. He learned to scuba dive at a young age, which led him to obtain his lifetime instructor certification in New York State, and was the first African American to do so. In 1984, LeRoy was awarded Diver of the Year by the Scuba Sports Club of Westchester New York. He was the Club's first Chief Instructor, the predecessor position to Education and Safety Director. He was active in the dive program, and instrumental in getting members to upgrade their skills.

An accountant by profession, he worked as the General Manager of the Mt. Vernon Teachers Credit Union until his retirement in 2001. LeRoy had lust for life and enjoyed traveling, listening to good music, dancing, and caring for his multitude of plants. Compassionate about the protection of animals, over time he opened his home and heart to several pet rescues, giving them the love and attention they deserved.

In 1993, he met and began courting Florence Felder, and in 2001, she said “yes”. For almost 15 years they were one another’s constant companions, especially enjoying traveling extensively. LeRoy kept Florence active and Florence kept LeRoy grounded, they were each other’s balance. Family was everything to LeRoy, therefore, he spent much of his life doing everything he could to support them, and was always at the ready with a word of advice …“can I tell ya?” In recent years his health had not been the best, but prior to his passing, he shared that he was “grateful for the life he had”.

LeRoy was the beloved husband of Florence Bonaparte; loving father of his daughters Cheryl Bonaparte, Andrea Naideck and her husband Andrew, Darlene Bonaparte; son LeRoy Bonaparte II; stepdaughter Crystal Henderson and her husband Allen; dear brother to Judith Bonaparte and cherished grandfather of Nina, Coree, Joshua, Colyn, LeRoy, Octavion, Tatiana and AC. He is further survived by his former wife Barbara Bonaparte, his treasured dog Benny, 3 brothers-in-law, 2 sisters-in-law, several cousins, and a host of extended family and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the ASPCA: https://www.aspca.org/secure/memorial?ms=wb_lpf_waystogive-teaser&initialms=wb_lpf_waystogive-teaser&pcode=WEBMEMORY