Obituary for Kenneth R "Kenny" Bonstein
Kenneth (Kenny) R. Bonstein, 74 of Lee, Maine, passed away peacefully at Northern Light
Eastern Maine Medical Center on July 3, 2020.
Kenny was born October 8,1945, in Tehachapi, Ca. He was the son of the late Kenneth R. Bonstein
and Anna Richards Bonstein. He spent most of his adult life in the Belvidere, NJ area with
his wife Rosemary. They moved to Maine in 1990 where they could enjoy the great Maine outdoors
together.
Kenny graduated from Belvidere High School Class of 1964 and received his BA in Education
at Waynesburg College. He continued his education and received his Masters in Education in
1980. He taught at Franklin Twp Elementary School in Broadway, New Jersey and was the
Asst. Superintendent of the Washington Twp School District in Washington, NJ before moving
to Maine. He taught for the Bangor School system and retired from the Brewer School system
in 2009.
As an educator, Kenny believed strongly in character education. He was instrumental in implementing
the Community of Caring program, founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, into the
Brewer School system. This character education program integrates the values of respect, responsibility,
caring, trust and family into the school community. As a trainer for Shriver’s team,
Kenny traveled across the state networking with different schools and facilitating workshops
for educators. Kenny was passionate about the program because it was meaningful and simple.
He truly believed in teaching not only math, science, social studies and ELA, but also
teaching students to care about themselves and one another and to take responsibility for their
actions and to respect themselves and others. Trust was something Kenny held in high regard
with his students and they loved him for that. He was a true believer in saying “Treat others as
you wish to be treated”
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Rosemary; his brother, Harold Bonstein and his wife,
Cathy; nephews, Scot and Ryan Bonstein; cousins, Michael McGrogan and wife Sally, Patty
Rotz and her husband Al. Kenny will also be forever remembered by his numerous dear friends.
Rosemary would like to extend special thanks to the wonderful doctors and nurses (especially,
Lisa, Mike and Delight) at Northern Light EMMC Grant 6 Oncology floor and the Lafayette Family
Cancer Center for their exceptional care and kindness. Kenny’s family will be forever grateful
to all the people whose blood and platelets were donated to keep Kenny with us.
Because of COVID-19, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Eastern Maine Medical Center on July 3, 2020.
Kenny was born October 8,1945, in Tehachapi, Ca. He was the son of the late Kenneth R. Bonstein
and Anna Richards Bonstein. He spent most of his adult life in the Belvidere, NJ area with
his wife Rosemary. They moved to Maine in 1990 where they could enjoy the great Maine outdoors
together.
Kenny graduated from Belvidere High School Class of 1964 and received his BA in Education
at Waynesburg College. He continued his education and received his Masters in Education in
1980. He taught at Franklin Twp Elementary School in Broadway, New Jersey and was the
Asst. Superintendent of the Washington Twp School District in Washington, NJ before moving
to Maine. He taught for the Bangor School system and retired from the Brewer School system
in 2009.
As an educator, Kenny believed strongly in character education. He was instrumental in implementing
the Community of Caring program, founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, into the
Brewer School system. This character education program integrates the values of respect, responsibility,
caring, trust and family into the school community. As a trainer for Shriver’s team,
Kenny traveled across the state networking with different schools and facilitating workshops
for educators. Kenny was passionate about the program because it was meaningful and simple.
He truly believed in teaching not only math, science, social studies and ELA, but also
teaching students to care about themselves and one another and to take responsibility for their
actions and to respect themselves and others. Trust was something Kenny held in high regard
with his students and they loved him for that. He was a true believer in saying “Treat others as
you wish to be treated”
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Rosemary; his brother, Harold Bonstein and his wife,
Cathy; nephews, Scot and Ryan Bonstein; cousins, Michael McGrogan and wife Sally, Patty
Rotz and her husband Al. Kenny will also be forever remembered by his numerous dear friends.
Rosemary would like to extend special thanks to the wonderful doctors and nurses (especially,
Lisa, Mike and Delight) at Northern Light EMMC Grant 6 Oncology floor and the Lafayette Family
Cancer Center for their exceptional care and kindness. Kenny’s family will be forever grateful
to all the people whose blood and platelets were donated to keep Kenny with us.
Because of COVID-19, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.