Protodeacon Alexis (Armando) Bona of Passumpsic fell asleep in the Lord on Saturday, August 26, 2023. He was 87 years old. He was the son of the late Angelo and Angelina Bona also of Passumpsic.
He attended Barnet schools, and he was in the last group to attend the old County Hill Schoolhouse. In 1954, he graduated from Saint Johnsbury Academy and, subsequently, from Becher Junior College in 1956. He received his BS. Ed. from Fordham University in 1962 and his M.A. from Hunter College of the City of New York in 1965.
In 1966 he began a long career with the New York City Public Schools as a teacher of social studies, first at IS 33 in Brooklyn, and later at IS 126 in Queens. In his last eight years of service, he was also Chapter Chairman of the United Federation of Teachers, Local No. 1, AFL-CIO at IS 126. In 1991, he retired and returned to the family farm on County Hill Road in Passumpsic.
He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Grace Archbishop Peter (L’Huillier) at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY, on April 20, 1981. He was elevated to Protodeacon in 1989. While in New York, he also served at the Cathedral of Protection of the Holy Virgin at 159 East 2nd St. He was for many years a parishioner and deacon at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Berlin, NH.
He leaves no immediate family members. Memorial donations can be made to Good Shepherd Catholic School, 121 Maple St., St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.
May Protodeacon Alexis’ memory be eternal!