Richard Bonacci passed away on January 21st, 2025, knowing how much he was loved by his family and his friends. He was born on October 28th, 1931, in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up in a large, loving family where he was one of nine children. Richard accomplished so much in his life, and he touched so many lives, but his greatest legacy is that of being a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He married Nancy, his high school sweetheart, in 1956, and they had three daughters whom he cherished, four grandchildren whom he was so proud of, and a great-granddaughter he adored. Family was always first and foremost in Richard’s life.
Richard was also a wrestling legend. He began his wrestling career at Cleveland’s West High School, where he was an undefeated, three-time state champion. He continued his wrestling career at the University of Toledo where, among other accomplishments, he was a three-time Mid-American Conference Champion, and team captain for two years, and he helped lead his team to two conference championships. In 1962, Richard was asked to resurrect the wrestling program at Fenn College that had been dormant for almost 30 years. Fenn College later became known as Cleveland State University, and Richard continued as their head coach for 36 years, making the wrestling program one of Cleveland State’s most successful sports programs. He is recognized today as one of the all-time greatest college wrestling coaches in the country, and he is a member of the CSU Athletic Hall of Fame, the Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, the University of Toledo Hall of Fame, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. However, it is not the titles and awards Richard most treasured, but, rather, the relationships and the friendships that he made along the way.
Richard is preceded in death by Nancy, his wife of 66 years, his parents Jean (Pelosi) and Anthony Bonacci, his brothers Ralph, Anthony, Roland, and Robert, and his sisters Florence Paris, Helen DiSalvo, Mary Wamsley, and Phyllis Kiesel. Richard is survived by his daughters, Tami Grauer (John), Shari Rooney (John), and Katherine Bonacci, his four grandchildren, John Grauer (Kathryn), Jack Rooney, Joey Rooney, and Stephanie Miller (Evan), and his great-granddaughter, Cora Grauer, as well as many nieces and nephews. Richard has reached his eternal home, and he is wrapped in God’s loving arms. He is reunited with Nancy, and surrounded by his family and his friends. He will be missed dearly by all who knew him, and he will live in our hearts forever.
Services for Richard will be private. For those who wish to send flowers, they can be received at Corrigan Craciun Funeral Home, 23040 Center Ridge Rd., Westlake OH 44145 on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
