Peter Damian Bonam

On Monday, April 15, 2024, Peter Damian Bonam, beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, lost his valiant battle with a rare form of cancer, passing away only a couple of months shy of his 66th birthday: June 3,1958, at Wake Med Cary, in North Carolina. Pete was one of eight children born to Marie and Leonelle Bonam – one of two born outside of the United States, on Tachikawa Air Base, Japan. (The other Greg, was born on Torrejón Air Base, Madrid, Spain. (Leon A. Bonam was one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen.) “Pete, you can never go home again”, the opening salvo in a conversation on the present-day state of his birthplace, Tachikawa Air Base – a conversation which would turn into an epic 3-hour every-thing-under-the-sun phone conversation. (He had already seen ‘Tachi’ photos.) We vowed to one-day go to Japan in search of sets of real-steel: a Daisho Set - Katana& Wakizashi. (The Daisho was a set of long and short swords, worn by Samurai warriors during the Edo period. The long sword is called Katana and the short one is called Wakizashi.) Mom was already monitoring our consumption of “shoot-em-ups” on television - westerns. In Japan “sword-em-ups” were added to that list. True to his Gemini Mercurial nature, Pete was an intelligent, lively and quick-witted conversationalist. (One of 4 Geminis in the family: Mom, Marie and sisters Anna and Monica.) Pete was a proud alumnus of Colgate University – as evidenced by his extensive Colgate memorabilia collection. He was an IT specialist, and migrated to Raleigh NC, with a loyal group of IBM-ers from Boca Raton FL. He was able to work remotely for CEENTA (Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates), with his colleague and friend Jeremie Woodall almost until the end. Preceded in death by both parents, Leon and Marie and his sister Monica, he leaves behind to mourn his precious life, siblings Leon Bonam, Anna Bonam-Morton (husband Rob Morton), Patrick Bonam, Walter and Jennifer Bonam (Broyard) and Amanda Bonam; brothers Frank Bonam, and Greg and Julie Bonam ( Clem) and their children Gabrielle and Garrett; nieces Jessica and Monique Snyder; much loved uncle Francis Xavier “Bobby” Barial – 94 this year! – and a precious family of cousins, friends and neighbors. Our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Wake Med Cary for their kind and compassionate care for Pete in his final days. Funeral Mass will be at Saint Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, 3008 Old Raleigh Rd, Apex, NC Eulogy at 10:45 am and Mass at 11:00am; and streaming on St Andrew's website. [https://youtube.com/live/9JeNNh8b454?feature=share] One of Pete’s memorable passions was cooking and baking. We have lovingly shared Pete’s signature ‘Orange Cinnamon Pound Cake’ Cinnamon Orange Pound Cake From Pete Bonam Full Half Recipe Recipe 1 ½ pound butter at room temperature 1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar 2 1 cups dark brown sugar 9 5 eggs 4 2 cups cake flour (or 2 tablespoons less per cup of regular flour) 2 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 1 teaspoon orange extract 4 2 teaspoon cinnamon 1 ½ ¾ tablespoons orange zest 1/2 1/4 teaspoon salt Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream sugar & butter until light & fluffy. At least 4 minutes at medium high. Add eggs one at a time. Add flour a little at a time until all is mixed in. Add milk, flavoring and salt. Beat 3 minutes at high speed. For full recipe bake in greased & floured 10-inch tube pan at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean. Center should be 210 degrees. Orange Glaze (From Alton Brown – Good Eats) 1 teaspoon orange zest 2 ½ tablespoons orange juice ¼ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon dark brown sugar pinch salt 6-oz (weight) powdered sugar Mix until smooth. Drizzle over cake.

Peter Damian Bonam

June 3, 1958 - April 15, 2024