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Veteran Volunteer Stays Busy

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By DIANE LOEBEL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 4, 2008

WHO: Mildred "Mickie" Bonagura

CLAIM TO FAME: One of the first women lieutenant colonels in the Civil Air Patrol and a person who has made volunteering a way of life.

ACCOLADES: "Mickie is very hard-working," said Cheryl Chmura, volunteer coordinator at Morton Plant North Bay Hospital in New Port Richey. "She knows what she's supposed to do and keeps her couriers on track. Mickie keeps everything running smoothly on her shifts."

BACKGROUND: Bonagura started volunteering as a driver at Mitchel Air Force Base in Long Island, N.Y. A member of the American Woman's Volunteer Service, she delivered passengers and paperwork to other bases in the immediate area. She heard about the Civil Air Patrol from a friend and decided to try it.

Bonagura was a CAP volunteer for 25 years and became a lieutenant colonel in the mid-1970s. She worked in the administration department for the northeastern seaboard, from Maine to Pennsylvania. She performed secretarial duties, cut orders, handled paperwork, alerted pilots for search and rescue missions, and was a spotter on many of those flights.

Bonagura also visited female cadets, including those from the International Corps. She liked it when girls from the South came to New York. In addition to their training, they enjoyed seeing the sights. One year she chaperoned Israeli girls on a visit to the United Nations headquarters.

Her late husband, Barnie, and one of their sons were also involved with CAP.

Bonagura managed Amity Travel in New York for many years, and worked for several other travel agencies before retiring.

In addition, Bonagura did volunteer work for the Salvation Army in Valley Stream, N.Y., and helped her husband lead a Cub Scout group.

Bonagura, 91, moved to Florida in 1987 from New York. She did volunteer work for VFW Post 4412 in Hudson for several years, crocheting lap robes and other items.

She started volunteering at Morton Plant North Bay Hospital 17 years ago and now does three shifts per week. She worked in an office at first but later became a greeter because of her ability to relate to other people, which she attributes to her years of working in real estate.

Bonagura received a certificate for her service to the hospital in 1991 and recently completed 3,500 hours as a volunteer.

WHAT'S NEXT: Bonagura intends to continue her volunteer work at the hospital. She also plays cards twice a week with friends, likes reading good mysteries and enjoys working on a computer her son gave her several years ago.

"I'm kind of addicted to it. I enjoy doing e-mail, reading Newsday and playing cards on it," Bonagura said. "I get recipes, and knitting and crochet instruction. There's a lot you can learn on the computer."

HER PARTING QUOTE: "I've had a very full life. I can't sit and do nothing. I have to stay busy."

Want to suggest an Everyday Hero? Call Diane Loebel, (727) 815-1081, write her at The Tampa Tribune, 6214 U.S. 19 New Port Richey FL 34652, or e-mail dloebel@tampatrib.com.

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