Barbara (bobbi) Bonace, PhD

“Bobbi” entered eternal life on Dec. 28, 2023, at 82 years of age, surrounded by her loving family. She was preceded by her grandparents, Ester and John Graves, and her mother, Donna Bonace. Survived by Marcia Karwas, Traverse City, MI.; sister Sandra Kay Bonace, Girard, OH; Marlene Tenold, Girard, OH; Carol Simon, California; Mark Karwas, Tucson, AZ, and the entire Gary Slocum. Family spread throughout upper Michigan. Bobbi is also survived be her beloved pets, Duncan and Rose.

Bobbi grew up in Struthers, Ohio, and attended Ohio State University, University of California Santa Barbara and The University of Kansas. Bobbi taught in the Cleveland School District, at Kent State, and coached softball and basketball at University of California Santa Barbara. After receiving her Ph.D. from University of Kansas, Bobbi became the first Compliance Coordinator at Washington State University in Pullman, WA. She also became the first director of the Washington State University Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Center, where she was able to serve university students and provide groundbreaking opportunities for marginalized youth in the Northwest.

With her history of unique skills, Bobbi joined the newly founded California State University Monterey Bay family as the first Athletic Director as well as the first Chair of the Kinesiology department. She was the first inductee to the inaugural CSUMB sports hall of fame; In addition to her role in Athletics and the development of a wide range of curriculum options in Kinesiology, Bobbi was chair of the of the Academic Senate, State wide Senator advocating for CSUMB with the Chancellor, was instrumental in the organization and implementation of Have A Heart Scholarship Dinner and Silent Auction, and was a member of the CEHI board which developed reasonable housing opportunities for CSUMB’s faculty and staff. Bobbi also developed Midnight Bay Half Marathon and the Presidents Cup Golf outing, all while developing young professionals within the popular sports management program. Additionally, she participated and finished the Big Sur Marathon 6 times, ran on the CSUMB Big Sur relay team, and qualified for Boston at the Napa Vally Marathon.

One of Bobbi’s last accomplishments was the AVON 39-mile walk in Chicago to end Breast Cancer, declaring that walking by Wrigley Field was the major highlight. Throughout Bobbi’s decades of teaching, coaching and administrative work, her legacy will live on through those that were lucky enough to have crossed her path.

Bobbi’s wish with her passing was for loved ones to spend quality time with family and friends and to listen to her favorite song, I HOPE YOU DANCE.

There was a “Celebration Of A Life Well Lived” at CSUMB’s Alumni and Visitor Center on August 24, 2024.