Kevin Thomas Bonko

Kevin Thomas Bonko, age 24 of Rochester, NY, formerly of Painesville Twp., passed away August 1, 2019 at the Seattle Children’s Hospital. He was born December 6, 1994 in Cleveland, OH. A 2013 graduate of St. Ignatius High School, Cleveland, OH, Kevin earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rochester, NY, in 2017. After completing a summer 2016 internship with Harris Corporation, Rochester, NY, Kevin accepted a full-time permanent position upon graduation and began design work on the glass lenses used in intelligence and defense satellites. After serving in various leadership roles, including president his senior year, Kevin remained an enthusiastic alumnus advisor to the UR SAE Baja club team, a role he fully embraced, including throughout his illness. Likewise, after spending his undergraduate years volunteering and employed by the UR Newman Community, he continued his efforts on a remote basis during his treatment in Seattle. Until his leukemia returned in February 2018, Kevin continued playing goaltender in the Rochester men’s ice hockey league, on the heels of four years on the UR Club Hockey Team. An avid world traveler, Kevin also enjoyed reading, skiing, and hiking, particularly in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. First diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2011, Kevin underwent three years, three months of daily chemotherapy through Rainbow Babies and Children Hospital and UR Medical Center. At relapse, Kevin returned to Rainbow for treatment, but the standard of care chemotherapy caused two incidents of septic shock, an acute emergency surgery, and an internal hemorrhage. He resumed treatment at Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle, WA in April 2018, enrolling on three CAR-T cell therapy trials, two newly-FDA approved immunotherapy monoclonal antibody treatments, and a fourth trial of T-cell depleted bone marrow transplant that took place January 30, 2019. After another relapse post-transplant, Kevin underwent a donor lymphocyte infusion, ultimately succumbing to the resulting graft versus host disease. In the Ignatian tradition, Kevin was passionately faithful, a constant and dedicated friend, an inspired optimist in taking on treatment to defeat his leukemia, and the consummate Man for Others. A.M.D.G. He is survived by his mother, Deborah A. (Michael J.) George; father, Robert J. Bonko; brothers, Patrick M. and Daniel J. George; grandparents, Thomas and Joyce Gray and Judy George; the love of his life Madeline R. Bedrock of New Jersey; her parents, Keith and Christine Bedrock of New Jersey and many other loving family. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Leonard and Sarah Bonko. The family will receive friends from 4-8 pm Friday, August 16, 2019 at Divine Word Catholic Church, 8100 Eagle Rd., Kirtland, OH 44094. A concluding prayer service and reflection will be by Reverend Brian Cool, UR Newman Community. A funeral mass will be held 10:30 am Saturday, August 17, 2019 at the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Kevin’s memory to Strong Against Cancer, http://give.strongagainstcancer.org/kevinbonko.

Kevin Thomas Bonko

December 6, 1994 - August 1, 2019