- Date Of Birth: December 1, 1927
- Date Of Death: November 24, 2007
- State: Florida
F. Ramon (Ray) Bonanno passed away on November 24, 2007 one week shy of his 80th birthday.
Ray was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Joseph Bonanno and Annie Cangelosi Bonanno. He attended school in Baton Rouge and graduated from Catholic High. He attended L.S.U. prior to his appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Upon graduation in 1950 he chose to join the Air Force. After pilot training he spent one year in Korea. Upon returning, the Air Force sent him to Iowa State University to earn his M.S. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in preparation for teaching the first class of cadets at the Air Force Academy. Afterwards, he was sent to the University of Arizona for a Ph.D. in Metallurgy. He was then stationed at Wright Patterson and served as Chief of the Advanced Metallurgical Studies Branch, Air Force Materials Laboratory. After Wright Patterson he did a tour in Viet Nam as an Aircraft Commander and as Chief, Special Reconnaissance, 7th Air Force Headquarters. Upon return, he was stationed at Eglin AFB and served as Chief of the Pyrotechnics Branch, Air Force Armament Laboratory. He retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Col.
Upon retirement, Ray followed one of his passions and returned to the teaching profession. Ray was an assistant professor of General Systems and Systems Science, ISSM, at the University of Southern California, where he taught members of the military in the United States and Europe. In addition, he taught for the University of Denver, Troy State University, and the University of Arkansas. Ray also taught at St. Mary School in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida and Rocky Bayou Christian Academy in Niceville, Florida.
Ray fulfilled another dream when he was ordained a deacon in 1980 for the diocese of Pensacola-Tallassee. Upon ordination he was appointed the Director of the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. He also served as the Pastoral Director of the Deacon Formation Program, and as a member of the Diocesan Tribunal. Ray was a deacon at Eglin AFB.
Ray is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Audrey; sons Rick, Jay and Mark; daughter in-law Debbie; brother, Dr. Joseph Bonanno; sisters, Shirley Pistorius and JoAnn Tannert; and six Grandchildren: Catherine, Joel, Megan, Christopher, Sophia and Danielle.
The family would like to give their sincere thanks to Dr. Bruce Ouellete and Dr.
