Genesee Sun

Dick Bondi Honored as January Veteran of the Month

The Livingston County Board of Supervisors honored Dick Bondi as there veteran of the month. The announcement read:

Our veteran for January 2012 is RICHARD "DICK" W. BONDI 

Mr. Bondi graduated from Geneseo High School in 1942.  He enlisted into the U.S. Navy on Feb. 5, 1943.  After his training at Sub School, New London, Conn, Mr. Bondi entered the submarine service.  He served  on board the U.S.S. 0-2, the U.S.S.  CALMAN, SUB DIV. 262 and the U.S.S. RATON.  He was Honorably Discharged on Nov. 13, 1946.



Mr. Bondi was called to active duty again during the Korean War on March 10, 1951 and served on the   U.S.S. BURFISH until his Honorable Discharge on May 16, 1952.



For his service to his country, Mr. Bondi was awarded the American Area Service Medal, 
the Asiatic-Pacific Area Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal 
and the Good Conduct Medal.  A request for the New York State Medal for Merit has been submitted. 



After the military, Mr. Bondi attended Sampson College and obtained a two year degree in Physical Therapy. He then attended Lycoming College and the the University of Texas to continue his B.S. in Physical Therapy.  At this time, he was "requested" to return to active duty.  After his second stint in the Navy, Mr. Bondi went to Bucknell University, where he received a Bachelor degree in Pre-med.  He then attended St. Bonaventure where he received his masters in bacteriology. 



Utilizing his degree in Physical Therapy, Mr. Bondi worked for the Nashville, TN, VA Medical Center for three (3) years before moving on to the University of Vanderbuilt in Juliett, IL., where he worked for seven (7) years,  and established the PT sections in both St. Joe's Hospital  and Civil Cross Hospital.   Mr. Bondi returned to NYS where he worked as a Physical Therapist at both St. James Hospital in Hornell and Noyes Hospital in Dansville.  He worked at St. James for thirty-three (33) years before his retirement in 1997.



Mr. Bondi was married to his first wife Carolyn in 1953. She passed from ovarian cancer in 1985, with Mr. Bondi providing all the care she needed until she died. He married his second wife Mary in 1990 and stayed with and supported her through her struggle with  Alzheimer's until her death in August of 2011. For his dedication and care of both his spouses, Mr. Bondi was nominated for and was the recipient of the "National Family Caregiver of the Year" award. 



Mr. Bondi is the proud father of three (3) sons and two (2) daughters and is a resident of Dansville.