Vincentian community leader dies at 94
By Nelson A. King
Gabriel V. Bonadie, a longstanding
Vincentian community
leader in Brooklyn, died
at Calvary Hospital in the
Bronx on Jan. 4. He was 94.
“He died peacefully,
attended by close family, and
parishioners and clergy from
Trinity Church Wall Street,”
his obituary states. “Gabriel
died as a result of smoke
inhalation from a fire at his
residence on Dec. 3, 2019.”
Bonadie was a former
president and chaplain of
the Brooklyn-based Vincentian
Independent National
Charities, Inc. (VINCI), and
a former member of the
Ancient Order of Foresters
Court, St. Vincent’s Morning
Star No. 2298, advancing
to the rank of Past Chief
Ranger.
He was also “a proud member
of the No. 17 St. Vincent
(1st Bequia) Scout Troop
and advanced to the rank of
Scout Master, District Scout
Master, District Commissioner
and Assistant Chief Commissioner
of St. Vincent,”
according to his obituary.
Bonadie was also a “lifelong
member” of the Anglican/
Episcopal church.
“He was christened at the
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
on the island of Bequia (St.
Vincent Grenadine island),”
the obituary says. “After
immigrating to the USA in
1972, Gabriel became an
active member of Trinity
Church Wall Street.”
At Trinity Church Wall
Street, Bonadie was a member
of the Congregational
Council and was the first
congregational member to
serve a seven-year-term on
the Vestry.
He also served in various
liturgical and lay leadership
capacities, such as sub-deacon,
acolyte, lector and intercessor,
the obituary says.
In addition, it says Bonadie
served on the Task Force
Against Racism.
“Gabriel through his generosity
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and love for Trinity
donated a set of vestments,”
the obituary says. “He was a
true cradle Episcopalian and
embraced every aspect of the
faith.”
Bonadie was born in
Bequia on Oct. 8, 1925 to
Clairmont and Maude Bonadie
(both predeceased him).
He held diplomas from
Cambridge University and the
London School of Accountancy
and Finance.
In St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, he was a school
teacher, Assistant Principal
and Boy Scout Leader.
According to his obituary,
Bonadie had a brief career in
politics and government for
several years prior to migrating
to New York.
He served as clerk of the
Executive Council (Cabinet
Secretary) in the St. Vincent
and the Grenadines government.
Soon after migration in
1972, Bonadie began employment,
serving for 26 years,
at Local 144 Fund Office of
the Nursing Home, Hospital,
Hotel, Civil Service and Affiliated
Services Union, and was
chief executive officer of the
Fund by the time he retired.
Bonadie was also predeceased
by his wife, Sybil; his
children, Gillian and John-
Paul; and his siblings – Rose,
Casembe, Siolastica and
Audrey.
He is survived by his
daughter, Gillian, the Peters
family in Bequia and the
United States, and the Clarke
family in the US.
The wake took place on
Thursday, Jan. 9 at Redden’s
Funeral Home, Inc. 325 West
14th St. in lower Manhattan.
The funeral took place the
next day at Trinity Church
Wall Street, 89 Broadway,
lower Manhattan also.
In lieu of flowers, the family
requested that contributions
be made to the Gabriel
V. Bonadie Memorial Fund at
the GoFundMe Link: https://
www.gofundme.com/f/gabriel
v-bonadie-memorial-fund.
“The fund will support
a yet-to-be selected youth
charity in St. Vincent and
the Grenadines,” the obituary
says.
Wayne Raguette, incumbent
VINCI president, told
Caribbean Life, that Bonadie
during “the last several years
of his life dedicated his time
to his church and the VINCI
organization.
“He was an executive member
and president for several
years,” he said. “He brought a
tremendous amount of experience
to the organization
and gave generously to many
causes in New York and St.
Vincent and the Grenadines.
His contribution was greatly
cherished and sadly missed.”
Gabriel V. Bonadie.
Velda Ashton
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