Stanley P. Bonk Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Stanley “Stan" Bonk—known affectionately by close friends and family as “Stash”—was born and raised in the tight knit Polish community of Reading, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Central High School in 1956. Stash met his one true love and life partner, Anna Mae Lewandowski, while studying Mechanical Engineering at Villanova University. After his graduation, he and Anna relocated to Connecticut where they raised four children and Stash began his professional career with United Technologies Fuel Cell Group. Stash was passionate about his work and loved his colleagues. Stash’s curiosity and natural ability to build and maintain close relationships carried him through a rich life of learning, adventure and discovery. He was an artist, a lover of music, a world traveler, and lifelong learner. Stan’s love of live music led him and Anna to Greenwich Village in the 60’s to experience jazz legends. He survived the iconic Woodstock festival with friends and danced to zydeco with his grandchildren. Stash’s fondness for the arts did not stop with music. He tapped into his own creative talents when he became a potter in the 70’s. He was a member of and actively engaged with Wesleyan Potters for over 35 years. Stan was a creator up until his last days. His other passions included gardening, UCONN Women’s basketball, the New York Times crossword puzzle, and a good bowl of pistachio ice cream. Stash’s interests were not all domestic. He and Anna spent many years traveling the world together, connecting with relatives in France, Poland and England. His time spent abroad fed his desire to serve causes greater than himself. After retirement, Stash continued to pursue and integrate his passions for engineering, travel and social responsibility by volunteering for a clean water project with Engineers Without Borders in India and Nepal. To those of us who loved him, Stash was a true Renaissance Man. He was gracious and warm-hearted. Passionate about living a full, good life. An engineer’s engineer. Creative potter. Inquisitive scientist. Lover of nature. Humanist. Quick witted gentleman. Sentimental devoted husband. Great listener. True friend, and—most important of all—loving husband, father and grandfather. Stash's funeral services were held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to UPenn Multiple Myeloma Research Fund, online at https://giving.apps.upenn.edu/fund?program=MC&fund=843447 We welcome you to share your memories, photos and experiences. We hope you visit this page for many years to come.

Stanley P. Bonk

July 18, 1938 - December 5, 2019