by Kelsey Dean Division D Director
I recently attended the funeral of Bonne Stroman, one of D25’s own. While I didn’t know Bonne very well, I went to support my friends who were grieving. Bonne and I briefly worked together on the first iteration of the D25 Strategic Planning Committee. She helped start the committee but warned that she didn’t have the time to commit long-term. I assumed that as a retiree, she had loads of free time. However, I learned just how wrong I was at her funeral.
Bonne was 74 years old and still teaching at the time of her death. One speaker estimated that she had taught over 7,000 kids in her career. Over 200 people attended her funeral, including fellow Toastmasters, teachers, school administrators, and friends and family. Bonne had touched the lives of so many.
Throughout her life, Bonne had lived and traveled the world with her husband and later with her young son as a widow. She was fluent in several languages and had many hobbies. In addition to being an active member of Toastmasters and Delta Kappa Gamma, an honor society for outstanding women educators, she also served in officer roles and on committees for many organizations. Bonne never missed her grandchildren’s events and still made time for her other friends and family.
As I learned more about Bonne’s life, it inspired me to do more, learn more, and help more people. Though I was sad to have only known her after she was gone, her legacy was radiant.
