Bonnie Beth McCandless

Bonnie was born in Pleasantville, NY to Lucie Brown and Charles McCandless on January 2, 1945. After attending Pleasantville High School, she married Marino Rotondo Jr. and moved to Bermuda with the US Air Force. Their daughter, Frances Michelle, was born on base before they headed to Colorado. She got her master’s degree and moved back to New York, where their son, Peter Marino, was born. She later divorced and focused her time on family and a career in real estate for several years, first for others and eventually owning her own business, Rotondo Real Estate. Academics was her true passion however, so she eventually redirected her life to pursue it, receiving her PhD from NYU and becoming a Doctor of Philosophy. Her dedication to learning was only matched by a passion for teaching, which is where she found her calling as an English professor. She taught at PACE University, the University of Maryland University College and other institutions of higher learning for over two decades. In the later stages of her career, a need to be close to family became a priority so she moved to Maryland and eventually to Virginia Beach to be close to her children and their developing families. Two years ago, she felt the mountains of CO calling her back to Boulder to be close to her son and her grandchildren and enjoy the mountain air and open space. She lived the rest of her days in a place that brought her peace and enlightenment.

Bonnie had a creative spirit and deeply enjoyed writing, studying Shambhala, teaching English, reading and studying Chinese poetry, listening to classical music (Yo-Yo Ma and anything her grandkids played was a favorite) and recently painting. She loved her family, valued her independence and loved coming together to talk about the week, life in general or western philosophy over a good meal. Travel was also a part of her life and she experienced the wonder of the Great Wall of China and spent some time in Yokosuka, Japan with her daughter and son in law. Other adventures included a cruise with her daughter and granddaughter, exploring the Caribbean, taking in the pink sands of Bermuda, and the blue waters of Puerto Rico, St. Kitts Island, and St. Maarten. The family beach house in Humarock MA was amongst her favorite places in the world, a place that brought her solice. She spent many a summer there throughout all stages of her life and loved the way the rocks sounded when the waves crashed on them.

Bonnie is preceded in death by her parents, Lucie & Charles, and sisters, Susan and Barbara McCandless. She is survived by her children Frances and Peter, daughter-in-law Chantal Rotondo and grandkids Isabella Sorano, Zachary and Ali Rotondo.

A memorial service will be held later this summer in her family's homestead in New Hampshire. For those interested in service details, please contact her son Peter Rotondo at [email protected] or her daughter Frances Rotondo at [email protected] .