Geneseo Mourns Passing of Peter Bondi

GENESEO – The Village has lost one of its most devoted public servants with the passing of Peter Bondi.

Monday night’s meeting of the Village Board of Trustees began with a somber moment of silence, not only for those who lost their lives on Jan. 17 but for Bondi, who passed away on Jan. 19 at the age of 82.

“It was a tragic week, but you can see the good that came out of it,” said Hatheway. “From walking on the street, people seemed pretty down, but by Friday and Saturday, the smiles were coming back again.”

Bondi originally opened the Palace on Main Street as a bowling alley and bar and went on to serve 12 years as Deputy Mayor on the Village Board of Trustees.

Though Bondi sold the Palace years ago and it was converted to office space, the lit marquee still stands above 61 Main Street.

According to an obituary by Rector Hicks Funeral Home, Bondi was a passionate member of the Geneseo Kiwanis Club. Bondi received the Hixson Award, the highest honor presented to a member of Kiwanis.

The following is an obituary for Bondi from Rector Hicks Funeral Home:

Peter E. Bondi, 82 of Geneseo passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. He is predeceased by his parents, Peter and Philomena Bondi, sister, Angela Saunders, brother, Ted Bondi, wife, Nancy Barg Bondi and many in-laws.

Peter is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Donna, sons Scott (Katherine) Bondi, Mark (Lauren) Bondi, daughter Valerie (Bill) Hendrick, grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Nathan Bondi, Aidan and Rebekah Hendrick, brother, Dick Bondi, sister in law, Mary Lou Bondi, several in laws and many nieces and nephews.

Peter was born June 13, 1933 in Rochester, NY the son of Peter and Philomena Chiara Bondi. He was a member of the 6/13 club sharing his birthday with his granddaughter Kaitlyn and his great nephew Jake Vattimo. Peter was a Veteran of the U.S. Army and owned and operated the Palace Bowling Alleys and Palace Lounge on Main St. in Geneseo. His passion was spending summers on Conesus Lake, fishing with his buddy, Otto, his brother Dick, nephew Ted Saunders and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He earned his Associates Degree from the SUNY College of Technology at Alfred and his Bachelors in Business Administration from RIT. Peter served the Village of Geneseo as Trustee and Deputy Mayor from 1994 to 2006. Another passion of Peter’s was the Geneseo Kiwanis Club where he received the Hixson Award, the highest honor presented to a member of Kiwanis. He was known for contributing countless hours volunteering for all of their projects to better our Geneseo Community. Peter loved the comradery of his fellow Kiwanians, the Main St. Coffee Club and so enjoyed making all of us who had the honor of being with him, laugh.

Friends may call Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m at the Rector-Hicks Funeral Home, 111 Main St. in Geneseo. A Celebration of Life Mass will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 4 Avon Rd. in Geneseo with Father Bernard Dan officiating. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Geneseo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Geneseo Ambulance Fund, PO Box 428, Geneseo, NY 14454 or the Geneseo Kiwanis Club, PO Box 71, Geneseo, NY 14454.