Sonya Bloser Monroe

She was born January 30, 1932. Graduating from Upper Arlington High School in 1949, she then attended Cornell University, where she was president of her freshman class and her senior class of 1953.

Sonya was very involved in her community. She was an active member of the Junior League and Twig #116 of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She was very proud of the telephone helpline she developed for Children’s Hospital, called Tell-A-Mom. Tell-A-Mom’s mission was to give mothers another parent to talk to when having difficulties with their children and was aimed at preventing child abuse. Another of her charitable activities was volunteering for and eventually being chairperson of the Babe Zaharias golf tournament, which raised funds for cancer patients.

An avid athlete, Sonya was a skier, tennis player, platform tennis player, and golfer. A member of Scioto Country Club, she treasured the hours spent with her friends on the courts and on the golf course. She had many life-long friends, such as those in her book club which has met for decades, and her friends from 1st grade with whom she met regularly.

Sonya was a wonderful mother, a great friend, a dedicated gardener, a terrific cook, a voracious reader, the world’s best grandmother (host of the Lunch Bunch), and everyone’s wise council.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Larry Monroe; her children Mark (Julie) Sengelmann, Karen (Jeff) Sharon, Jeff (Karen) Sengelmann; her stepchildren Mike Monroe, Dan (Janis) Monroe, Kelly (David) Kullberg; 7 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and her brother, Parker Bloser, Jr. A private celebration of her life will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Cornell University. To make a donation on line, go to https://giving.cornell.edu/ways-to-give. Click “Give now,” “Give Online,” “Colleges and Schools,” and “College of Arts and Sciences.” To contribute by mail, make checks payable to Cornell University, Box 37334, Boone IA 50037-0334, and in the memo line write “Sonya Bloser Monroe ’53.”

Please visit www.schoedinger.com to share memories and condolences. Funeral arrangements entrusted to SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST.