Matthew I. Bonanno, 90, of Woodcliff Lake, passed away on Monday, November 4, 2019. He was the beloved husband of Judith, devoted father of Troy Bonanno, his wife Kimberly, and grand children Nicholas and Kiersten. He frequently improved receipts for his close brother–in–law Donald Weisenfluh. Born in New York City, he moved to NJ and attended Leonia High School where he played star football, basketball and baseball, earning the name “Matt Monkey” by his coaches. Graduated NYU where he played football, competed in and won the Golden Gloves Boxing award,, participated in shot put and javelin, and ran the 440 and 220, winning the pre-Olympic Millrose medal.
In 1952 he was drafted into the US Army. He was stationed at Ft. Dix and attached to the 1st Army Division. Matthew was an architectural design high school teacher at New Milford High School where he also coached football and track, and was the Theater Director for numerous shows. Matthew was a backup singer for Jerry Vale and owned his own construction company. He also taught at NYU. Matt was a founding father of the 10 PLUS club, a fraternal organization of high school teachers who had taught for 10 years or more.
After retiring, he enjoyed many days of golfing and traveling around the world, and socializing with his retired buddies known as the ROMEOS, (Retired Old Men Eating Out). Starting in the 1970’s, he and his wife, mother-in-law and father-in-law, drove from NJ through Mexico and Central America to drop off a new Volkswagen Bus for his brother-in-law serving in Panama as aide-d’-camp to Commander U.S Army Forces Southern Command. Matt's travels brought him to places like England, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Sicily and Italy, Colorado, Michigan, Hawaii, Portland, Oregon and Sonoma California.
Matt was very proud of his Sicilian ancestry but got a rude awakening during a trip there when he introduced himself to the Sicilian tour guide as a fellow Sicilian paisan. The tour guide looked up at Matt’s robust 6’2” frame and clear blue eyes and informed him that he may have a Sicilian surname, but there was evidently a Norseman in the woodpile.
Matt intends to continue to play golf from his new residence at George Washington Memorial Park, from his place of rest, which faces the Ridgewood Country Club Golf Course. He is taking along his 7 iron, putter and sleeve of golf balls.
The family will receive their relatives and friends on Friday from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, NJ. A Committal Service will be held on Saturday at 10:45 am in George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, shrinershospitalsforchildren.org Becker-funeralhome.com.
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Shriners Hospitals for Childrenwww.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org
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