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Friday, June 23, 2023

Bonnell-Bunnell Scholarship Funds

 We all know Claude Bonnell's Database (link listed on this blog, but how many of us knew he was a devoted supporter of his alma mater, the University of Delaware? According to this 2002 article on the University of Delaware's website  "He has created scholarships at Harrington High School, American University and at his golf club. His endowment of The Bunnell Family Scholarship for science students at UD is now worth more than $462,000."

My curiosity was raised. How many other Bonnell-Bunnell scholarships have been created by generous donors? I spent a couple hours on the internet and found quite a few.

This list is by no means comprehensive. It only includes the ones I found after a short internet search. If you know of any not listed here, let me know and it will be added.

Brian Bunnell Scholarship

In honor of Bunnell’s dedication to the school, a permanent and ongoing scholarship in his name was formed to be awarded to a student who personifies his love for adventure and learning science. the scholarship will be awarded to one of two seniors at Conifer High School, Winter Park, Colorado. Brian Bunnell was snowboarding on Berthoud Pass on Dec. 26 when he was caught in an avalanche. Despite rescue efforts, he did not survive. Bunnell was a chemistry teacher at Conifer High.


Bonnell Family Endowed Scholarship

St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN


The Bonnell Foundation: Living with Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship Program

A scholarship for students with cystic fibrosis


Bunnell Fellowship Program American Foundation for the Fellowship of the Hand

The purpose of the Bunnell Traveling Fellowship, in honor of ASSH founder Sterling Bunnell, MD, is to provide scholarship funding for a young hand surgeon to pursue an educational or research goal that requires national and international collaboration, and which fosters the principles of scholarship of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.


Bunnell Scholarship

The Bunnell Scholarship provides scholarships to students at any campus of the University of Alaska. 


Charles Bunnell Mining Scholarship

The Charles Bunnell Mining Scholarship provides financial assistance to students in the School of Mineral Engineering, UAF College of Engineering and Mines of University of Alaska, Fairbanks


Dolores Bunnell Scholarship at Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA

This scholarship honors Dolores (Dee) Bunnel by establishing a scholarship for early childhood educators and professionals.


Dr. John Bunnell Scholarship of Music Fund, Community Foundation of New Jersey

This scholarship supports Madison High School Graduates Pursuing Higher Education and the Fine Arts


The Ed Bunnell Scholarship 

This Scholarship is an endowed fund that was created to recognize the contributions of Dr. Ed Bunnell, the first Dean of the School of Continuing Education and Special Programs, toward promoting adult learning and continuing education at the University of South Alabama. 


Joseph Ruwet Bunnell Scholarship Fund.  

The annual scholarship is awarded to a deserving Litchfield High School Student Athlete, Litchfield, Connecticut.


Kate Sterling Bunnell Scholarship Endowment Fund

This scholarship offers financial assistance for college expenses to Stratford, Connecticut resident students.


Kiel Bonnell Scholarship Fund

A memorial scholarship named for a young man, Kiel Bonnell who died at age 18 in a plane crash. His family decided to use the funds they were saving for Kiel’s college education to create this scholarship for any high school senior or current college student who is a member of or attends Grace United Methodist Church or other area churches in Alamogordo, New Mexico.


The Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Kenneth L. and Bonnita L. Bonnell Family Army ROTC Scholarship Honoring the U.S. Army Value of Selfless-Service

Recipients must be an Ohio State University Army Cadet from Union County. 


Rick Bonnell Memorial Scholarship. 

The Hornets launched the scholarship last season as part of the team’s efforts to honor the legacy and impact made on the organization, its fans and the city of Charlotte by former Charlotte Observer Hornets beat writer Rick Bonnell.


Robert Allen Bunnell Scholarship

The scholarship is awarded to an incoming graduate student in Journalism and Public Affairs at American University. 


The Stella Joy Bunnell Endowed Scholarship

The Stella Joy Bunnell Scholarships support nursing students at Rhode Island College, Zvart Onanian School of Nursing. It was established by Brian Krueger, Stella's grandfather in Stella's memory. 


Vickie Bunnell Advanced Education Scholarship

This Scholarship was founded by the Bunnell family and the Kiwanis Club of Colebrook, Vermont in Vickie’s memory to encourage post-secondary education by area residents who have decided to return to school after a break in their education following high school.


William L Bonnell Company, Inc. Scholarship

this scholarship is awarded to seniors in Mechanical Engineering or Industrial and Systems Engineering with an interest in operations at Georgia Institute of Technology.




Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Claude A. Bunnell, and His Incredible Legacy

This post is inspired by a chapter in  former editor Charles E. Bunnell (Charlie to his friends) recently compiled Bonnells & Bunnells of Note (And a few Burnells & Burrells for Good Measure). The complete work is available on Internet Archive at this link: Charlie Bunnell's Bonnells & Bunnells of Note.

We all owe a great deal to Claude A. Bunnell, whose database is incredible (linked to this blog).  When he died, Charlie published his obituary, taken from the Chandler Funeral Home website in the newsletter:

Claude A. Bunnell, age 89 of Lima PA, formerly of Wilmington DE and Long Boat Key Fl, passed away on Sept 5, 2010 after a long illness. 

He is survived by his wife of 61 years Sara Hackett Bunnell and 4 sons, Steven C, David E, Donald H, and Thomas B. Another son, Robert A predeceased him. Surviving also are 4 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. 

Services will be held at the CHANDLER FUNERAL HOME, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington DE on Friday Sept 10, 2010 at 11:00am. The family will greet friends at 10:30 am prior to the service. 

In lieu of flowers, donations to ACTS Hospice, 812 N. Bethlehem Pike, Ambler, PA 19002 would be appreciated. 


In its 2002 Report of Private Support, the University of Delaware honored Claude A. Bunnell for his financial support. He had attended UD thanks to a "loan" fund established by Pierre S. and Alice du Pont. Recipients were not required to make direct repayment, but to give back to the University when they were able to do so.


Claude repaid with gifts of more than $378,000 to UD, including $100,000 for the expansion of Colburn Laboratory. He also created scholarships at Harrington High School, American University and at his golf club.


What a legacy he left behind!!


Friday, June 9, 2023

51st Bonnell Reunion in Alton, Illinois July 15

 Attention Any Bonnells Who Live in the Midwest (or want to go there for fun and family).

51st Bonnell Reunion 

SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2023 

11 AM – 5 PM EDT

Gordon Moore Park, Alton, Illinois


Bring a side dish to share. Also any meat to throw on the grill. Lunch will be at noon so if you want food to be grilled you must arrive before then. Bring paper plates, napkins and utensils for your family. 


Click here for more information.


And if someone wants to send me a report and photos, we'll post them on the blog.


Sunday, June 4, 2023

Bunnell Graves Near the Bunnell House, Winona County, Michigan

This post is based on a chapter in  former editor Charles E. Bunnell (Charlie to his friends) recently compiled Bonnells & Bunnells of Note (And a few Burnells & Burrells for Good Measure). The complete work is available on Internet Archive at this link: Charlie Bunnell's Bonnells & Bunnells of Note.


Ann Marie Middleton, Bay City, Michigan, previously sent information on brothers Willard and Lafayette Bunnell. From the archivists, Marianne Mastenbrook and Walt Bennick, at The Winona County Historical Society in Michigan, where the Willard Bunnell House is located, Ann received information on the Bunnell graves that were originally near the Bunnell House there.

“From what we have found out, the graves were moved from the Bunnel House property and put on the land that belonged to the Smith Family in Homer. However, these graves are only marked with "rocks" and the area is not taken care of as a Cemetery.  It is very, very hard to get to and a resident of Homer provided a map for us, and if someone goes, she must lead the way. [Marianne Mastenbrook]”


“Ann Marie - Please find photos and the Bunnell Grave Site attached. The grave site is along the top of a narrow ridge that extends up from the Bunnell House. It is leaf covered and the tomb stones are but pieces of limestone that have been placed at the head and foot of each grave. They are not marked, or at least no markings can be seen. It has been reported that there are nine graves at the site, but I counted only a couple of "markers." The markers are difficult to seen. On the b/w photos I tried contrast to enhance the stones, they are near the center of each photograph. - Walt Bennick, Archivist”

[Charlie’s Note: Six photos were provided; 3 color, 3 B&W, none that showed anything like a pile of stones even.]


Friday, June 2, 2023

Bonnell and Bunnell Members of the Grand Army of the Republic Post in Aurora, Illinois

Whenever I receive a newsletter from a genealogy society I look for Bonnells and Bunnells. The latest issue of The Quarterly Journal of the Illinois State Genealogical Society (Spring 2003 Vol. 55 No. 1) has a wonderful article by David C. Bailey, Sr.; Roger L. Knigge, Pamela Nila, and Eric Pry: A Roster of Aurora Post #20 GAR in Aurora, Kane County, Illinois, Part 1.

It's an amazing article as every fact is supported by footnoted sources. If you have ancestors in Aurora, get hold of this article.

Three Bonnell-Bunnell men were members. I've linked the sources to associated web pages.

Alanson Dorman Bunnell 

Born 10 November 1817 in Connecticut. Died 25 June 1897; buried West Aurora Cemetery, Aurora, Illinois (Find A Grave Memorial 75642527)

Corporal, Company F, 2nd Connecticut Infantry, (Connecticut. General Assembly. Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion. Hartford, Connecticut: Case, Lockwood and Brainard, 1889. page 26.

Orville M. Bunnell

Born 4 August 1823 in Genoa, New York. Died 14 March 1896, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. (Find A Grave Memorial 81668815) (Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916)

Quartermaster, Sergeant, Company I, 6th Ohio Calvary. (Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion. 1861-1866, Vol 11 (eleven), p. 348)

William L. Bonnell

Born about 1845, in New York (based on age at enlistment)

Died 4 August 1918 Biloxi, Mississippi ("Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900", National Archive Catalog ID 2588825–image available on Fold3.com)

Private, Company C, 124th New York Infantry (Register of New York Regiments in the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 36, p. 513 "Age, 19 years. Enlisted at Syracuse, to serve one year, and mustered in as private, Co. C, September 4, 1864; mustered out with company, June 3, 1865, near Washington D.C.")