Early Sunday morning we packed into the car and headed South out of Denver to Colorado Springs, CO we spent the day with an amazing man, Lee Bonin.
We listened as he told stories and baked bread.
Here are some images and some words from Pam Bonin, Lee’s granddaughter.
I never went to school a Thursday during ski season from kindergarten through 8th grade. Grandpa owned his own electrician business and he took Thursday off. Each year he would come into the classroom; introduce himself to my teacher and say: “I’m Pammy’s Grandfather, she won’t be in class on Thursdays, please adjust her homework accordingly.” My step-mother hated it, my teachers and Grandpa and I loved it! We would go up to the Berkshire Mountains in n/w MA and ski our hearts out, we had such great fun!
Grandpa made his way Colorado Springs and they bought their house in 1992 and in August of that year I took my first trip out to see Grandpa with my Dad and brother Brandon, for the purpose of putting a new roof on the house. A month later Grandpa got me a plane ticket to come back and visit for vacation, and thus my annual trips to Colorado Springs to see Grandpa Lee began.
Dad’s birthday is in July and Grandpa’s is a month later in August; along with my Aunt and my sister. For many years Grandpa would travel back to CT for a month between July and August for birthday and general family celebrations. He remained an avid tennis player and skier until he turned 80. He is a retired tennis Pro (you can find him on the US Professional Tennis Players Association website) and he has medaled in the Senior Olympics in giant slalom racing many times right up through his 80th birthday.
He is a man who lives his life his way, and is never short with a “You tell those sons of bitches to kiss your ass!”. He is hard on the outside but a softie on the inside; always making friends with the outcasts and people who are struggling. He loves to meet new (and younger) people; I think it helps him stay young. At 88yrs old he has a lifetime of colorful stories to tell, mischief he got in as a kid with his brothers and a special love he shared with my Grandma for a very long time.
What else can I say? There is so much to Grandpa Lee…
Pam Bonin
