Saturday, February 16, 2008

News from Kathy...

Kathy recently met with Courtney and Tammy from Dan's club.
  • In honor of Dan's work the tennis center will be named in his honor.
  • There will be a memory board in the viewing room for everyone to add their personal memories of Dan and pictures they want to share.
  • Tammy will be having a tennis tournament in the fall as a fund raiser for the Dan Bonfigli JTennis Memorial Fund and it will have his name on the tournament.
  • The dry erase board with Dan's inspirational message will be preserved.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Two Sisters inspired by Dan...

Our family continues to grieve with you .My daughters looked forward to the junior tournaments that Dan held atEssex Junction.We all knew that Sportsmanship and Fun were the requirements for the day!One year, both Sayre and Emma won their respective age divisions and wehave a very proud photo with Dan presenting their trophies! When ourgirls were at Team Tennis Sectionals in Connecticut 2 summers ago, the professional photographer snapped a picture of Emma's beautiful forehandand right behind the fence was Dan: looking on, smiling very approvingly!That poster is blown up and framed on Emma's bedroom wall.With tears in my children's eyes the night I told them about Dan's passing, Emma said, "Well Mom, now I can always know that Dan is that Angel looking over my shoulder, just like in my picture."Thank you for helping us all to communicate with you.
Our hearts ache with you.
Linda, Ken, Sayre and Emma Limburg

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

A true friendship ...

As we started our family in 1982 Miami Shores on 102nd Street, one of the 1st neighbors we met on 101st Street were the Dan and Kathy Bonfigli. What a wonderful family they have been and it further solidified our friendship through Nancy Powers teaching at Miami Country Day School with the Dan and Kathy Bonfigli for many years. A true friendship was quickly struck with Dan, as I started training for triathlons. Both Dan and Kathy were riding back then and we started riding to Key Biscayne and back on the weekends. Other rides in the early mornings before work to Miami Beach were most memorable. Even today, I relive those rides, which were so enjoyable. As our sons grew up, Jimmy, now 20, started to play on the EJHL Green Mountain Glades in 2004, a junior hockey team in Burlington, Vermont. We were reconnected through this event to the Bonfigli's and were able to travel to Vermont over the past three years for visits to Dan and Kathy and relive our days in Miami Shores. The Lord moves in mysterious ways and we truly believe that this course of events was meant to reunite our families once again. We shall miss Dan and will continue to support Kathy and Gabby in life.
Tom and Nancy Powers.

Dan's brothers and their high school tennis coach


Monday, February 4, 2008

My cousin Danny...

Long ago and far away... My childhood was peculiar in one thing, not having a cousin close by... I was hearing of my cousin Danny, I could see him in photographs, even listening to his voice through cassette recordings but I could never imagine how it would feel that this person would be so loveable. In my home town, Punta Chica(circa 1972) we met have shared many happy days, those were times to enjoy, to play, to learn. Danny was always the 'hot' one, his physical power and his abilities. He was also very likeable, always ready for the jokes to make people laugh. Something here made him come back a few years later, it was the 1978 Soccer World Cup taken place in Buenos Aires. Then we were adolescents, with different interests in other things ... and people. We shared several outings. a soccer game at the River Plate "Monumental" Stadium, several night escapades where , by the way, he showed us his total devotion for "Saturday Night Fever" Later, in '89 , with Grandma Laura's help, I took a trip to the USA. There I had the experience of life close to my uncles and cousins, mixing up with their lives and experiences. Danny again was there for me to make my stay better, he gave me a few lessons in tennis. His vocation for the sport was always evident and only second to his generosity . Then, in '89, after starting our own families I took another trip to the US, this time for business reasons and accompanied by my wife Diana and 3 year old daughter Barbara. This time was in Miami Shores, Florida where Kathy was in the last stages of pregnancy with Gabriela. She was so sweet in receiving us and made us feel at home. That was the time when I realized we were connected beyond our mere blood ties. Dan then, revealed a special happiness, because of the incoming birth of her first daughter. We spent a short but enjoyable time together and also had the chance to meet their great friend Ed J. Olmos. I had returned to their place sometime later by myself, and again Dan made me feel that I wasn't alone. He made room for me in their living room where I spent a few days, I went with him to Boca Raton where he was to compete in a Triathlon. I always was impressed by his willpower as in this case to reach a goal only very few dared to reach... Later in life came some difficult years when I would've liked to travel but could not afford it. Time went by and our lives were tying us with our own responsibilities and different agendas and away from our affections... Now, far away, after so many years and even if they were just a short part of my life, my best memories are of him, they were engraved in my mind and I'll treasure them forever because to a certain extent they made me the person I am today... Now, I am left with these images, those moments, with that Danny, forever... ...and all that energy that you employed to achieve your dreams, dear cousin, were not in vain, because they inspired all of us...
Your cousin Andy Michalla

Mark's Eulogy...

"champion"
one rule I should mention....please hold applause until points are finished in their entirety.

I sat up late last night wondering how would I ever properly pay tribute to the greatest man I have ever had the privledge of learning from, my big brother dan. Due to the events of the week the 4 younger brothers played hot potatoe with the task of writting the speach of a lifetime for our older brother dan. Last night with no time remaining a family friend looked at me and said "do it, you have to do it"I agreed but still wondered if I was the right person to do it and if i could even come up with the words to honor him the way my heart told me he deserved to be honored.15-loveI began to think back and reflect on the incredible life of Daniel Bonfigli, dan was the ultimate competitor, one that could completely ignore intense pain during a triatholon or a high speed bike race and grit his teeth and simply overcome the seemingly impossible. Time and time again he would prove that will and desire and passion were qualities that meant much more than just raw talent and althletic ability.i recall stories even legends like the time that dan once busted open a large bee hive with one of our neighbors in the back yard and the story goes that dan outran 200 bees that were faster than jesse owens as they chased him accross the entire neighborhood. I believe this only becuase I have witnessed dan incredible ability to simply will his way to victory like no one i have ever known.

dan not only was a great competitor in all aspects of life, he was even better known as a teacher and for his ability to pass on his skill, knowledge and passion for tennis and sports to hundreds, even thousands of individuals over the span of 35 years. As a teenager dan tought tennis to youngsters williston and then shortly after attending UVM dan and kathy moved on to texas and florida where dan helped countless children gain confidence and new ability through his tireless efforts and patience.
dan got excited about the simple things in life...when roger federer wore a tux onto the court at the open and they played the start wars theme, dan was loving it, he loved the game, all the little details.
30-loveafter precious little gabriella was born dan and kathy moved back to vt from miami and settled into essex junction where dans dream to build the best childrens tennis prgram in the country started to become a reality. during this time dan was honored with various awards and accolades and rightfully so. but what seemed most important to him was that he was honored with hundreds of students that took to the sport that he loved so much. you see, he felt responsible for their happiness when it came to knowing and loving tennis, and in reality he was.dan knew he wasnt going to play in the us open or make it to wimbledon but he always believed that his students could. every student would leave the court knowing that their coach was backing them 100% and that they really had a reason to have hope. even until only a few short weeks ago, dan was still on the court donating his time to others that were in his eyes less fortunate than him. how could it be that someone that we all thought would not even be around months earlier be on the court giving to others, how could it be.dans belief in others was spectacular, in this last year, dan traveled to watch his daughter gabriella play her soccer games for the UVM team and did it with the expectation that he would witness his talented daughter do nothing more than play the game she loved. he didnt need goals, he didnt need wins, he was just so thankful to be a part of the game.that is the lesson we will learn from dan, thats the lesson he was teaching us all along. just being in the game is the most precious thing of all. just being there is precious. 40-lovedans life was really a tennis match and after all, thats what he wanted it to be,... in the end he had some incredible winners, seemingly impossble shots that bent around the net post grazing the lines spurring on the "come on" yell that only dan could pull off in a cool way. yet at the same time he had some shots that hit the tape and landed on the wrong side of the net.... but not once did he blame it on his racket and not once did he get angry with his opponent, dan simply plowed on and moved closer and closer towards the end of the match with a diamond of an attitude.dan battled all the way to tennis heaven with a smile on his face, we will all never forget his graceful way of letting us know that life is all about being in the game. just being there is precious.

game, set, match and champion, Dan Bonfigli

You will be very sorely missed but never, ever forgotten.

Celebration a part of impressive weekend...

What an impressive weekend. After meeting all of Dan's family it is clear that he was blessed with a strong supporting cast. Many special moments helped remind us that Dan will be with us forever. One moment that I was glad to be a part of was the Celebration of Dan's innovative teaching games that was held at SFE in Essex. Over 30 tennis players from ages 5-18 attended! One Tennis Pro came as far as Boston to help facilitate this event. The event started with a tribute to Dan's attention to the most finite detail of making sure each shoelace was tied. We then took a minute to observe the four court Tennis Center with a suspended running track that Dan helped create! It was at this moment I realized that we were living out Dan's Dream of Growing the Game. Over the next three hours each participant experienced the many games that Dan designed and implemented to help take each one of them to the next level. I left those courts feeling honored to have been a part of a community event in Dan's name. I am sure it will not be the last.
Thanks to all who were able to attend and or lend their support,
Nick Marchand

USPTA Tennis Professional

Blessed that our paths did cross...

Crossing Paths……
My path crossed with Dan’s a handful of times…..the first time we met, it was playing indoor soccer together at the old indoor center in Williston. The thing I remember most was his passion for the game. He was intense and driven to win, but winning did not matter as much as putting in the effort to win. As a teammate, you couldn’t help but get caught up in his enthusiasm and love for the game.
For the next 10 years or so our paths did not cross very often. We were more on parallel paths, as we were both coaching soccer teams for Essex United. I was coaching the boys and Dan was coaching the girls. Both of our teams enjoyed success over the years. And usually at the Essex United tournament, I could catch a few moments watching his team play in an exciting semi-final or final. It was always fun to watch his excitement as the girls attained success; he provided such a great atmosphere for them to excel in.
The next time our paths crossed it also involved soccer, but this time it was with the Essex Varsity Girls team. I was helping Bill O’Neil coach, and Dan was the super fan on the other side of the field with either a camcorder or a 35mm camera in his hand capturing the events of the 2005 season. However, there was one particular moment that will be forever etched in my memory…..the girls had just won the State Championship in overtime (with Gabby providing the assist for the winning goal) and Dan was moving around the field capturing the moment with his camera, snapping picture after picture. Wearing that patented ear-to-ear smile of his. I can’t ever recall seeing a man so happy. Of course he was happy for Gabby. But he was also happy for the entire team, after all he had coached most of them sometime during their soccer career. In fact a great deal of the credit for the way the girls played that day had to go back to those early years with Dan….they refused to loose. I still smile when I think of one of the “Kodak” moments….The winning goal had just gone in, the field and sidelines erupted, the girls on the field raced to the goal, the rest of the team sprinted onto the field to meet them, at the same time hundreds of the fans sprinted onto the field. They all met at the top of the penalty box and created a huge pile of bodies (at least eight deep), and there was Dan laying on the ground about 5 yards away taking pictures of the bottom of this human pyramid, capturing the moment, as only he could. I feel honored that he gave me one of the photos from that day, it captured the moment like nothing that could be said in 10,000 words.
Today our paths crossed again…..which is why I am sitting here late on a Saturday night recalling the day’s events and thinking about how it started. With a funeral for a friend, Dan Bonfigli ….a man taken from us, long before any of us were ready. If you must know, I hate funerals, I always have. They are vivid reminders of my own mortality, and always leave me depressed and in a state of sadness. But for some reason, this funeral was different…oh it had its folks dressed in dark colors with somber faces, some with tears…..but for some unknown reason today there was this underlying feeling of peace that crept over me. It started with the music and grew stronger with each passing moment, from the bible readings from Gabby and Kim, to comforting and uplifting sermon about God’ grace, and finally to the dedication from Dan’s brothers. It was just a constant reminder of the legacy that Dan left behind and the fact that he is now at peace in heaven. So as I sit here reflecting and writing this note, I feel lucky and blessed that that our paths did cross a couple of times in life. And I found great assurance in today’s service that our paths will cross again…..in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Dan we are all going to miss you. But that huge infectious smile of yours has left an everlasting mark of joy on all our hearts.
Kevin, Michelle & Kyle Dawson

Saturday, February 2, 2008

What we have done for others...

"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."

from Caitlin Spaeth

I learned so much...

Kathy, Gabby, and the rest of Dan's family;
During the few short years that Dan was my tennis instructor, I learned so much. Kathy and Gabby, I know that so many people have told you this, but it's because that's how good of a coach he is. I know that I am one of so many students that Dan has taught and made into better players. He was tough, and I know my peers, my fellow students and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. A lesson with Dan was always fun and intense, and it always made me feel gratified when it was time to walk off the court. I always felt the need to put in 101% effort with Dan, which is how it should be. He taught me to hustle and go for every impossible shot, because sooner or later you hit it in, and that makes every missed attempt worth it. Gabby, you are the proof of what an excellent instructor he was. I know that i did not get to know Dan as much as some others, but even so the lessons he taught me will stay with me for the rest of my tennis carrer.
Sincerely,Joey Behlendorf
p.s. dan, you should have seen this volley i had yesterday.

Friday, February 1, 2008

His presence and advice helped me...

Gabby,
I want to let you know how much of an impact your dad had on my life. He saw something in me not only as a soccer player and tennis player,but as a person as well. His belief and confidence in me has been what has pushed me these last 8 years to be the best I can be. In u10 Essex United soccer we were probably the only team doing sprints in practice. It was tough as just a kid, but the challenge that he created for us has made me a stronger person through and through. Even when he wasn't our coach his presence and advice on the sidelines is what helped me through many games and matches. As we developed throughout the years he was continuously there, and his excitement to watch us succeed kept growing with time. I will never forget the passion that he exhibited watching us accomplish even the smallest feats. His motivation made me come to truly love the game. Without his coaching and inspiration I would not be where I am today. I am so thankful for all the things that he taught me and I will carry his words of wisdom with me for the rest of my life. Gabby I am so lucky and glad that I have you as a friend and as a teammate. I hope that our journey will continue together, and that we can accomplish even greater goals because of the belief your dad embedded within us. I love you and I am here for you.
Teammates for life.
Karli Houston

Very much an older brother to me...

Family and Loved Ones of Dan:
I just learned of Dan's passing and of his heroic struggle. I've been away from Vermont for a long time, but my few years there were formative and a time I will always cherish. My memories lie in people, not just the place, and Dan's face is one of the first in my mind when I pine for my time in Burlington. The big lug was very much an older brother to me when I moved to Burlington as a callow lad, we became fast friends, and he introduced me to the tennis scene. As a result, I got my feet back on the ground (because of his own groundedness), and I think it's fair to say that my life took off from there. I loved working and playing with him on the tennis court, and I admired the way he lived his life off the court. Never underestimate the impact a 25 year-old man has on a 20 year-old kid - at least one who is paying attention.
I am sure you have heard many stories like this, and from people like me who are coming out of the woodwork. I'm an example of how Dan's life, and his massive spirit, extends beyond the immediate and into the world. I was just a passerby in Burlington, but I've carried a piece of him with me wherever I've been.
My thoughts are with you as you honor and celebrate Dan.
Peter Fayroian

He will truly be missed...

Our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the Bonfigli Family. We had many good times with Dan during our high school and college years. He will truly be missed.
The Wolbach's
Bob,Lou,Mary,Mike,Denise,Dennis,Richard and Theresa

Dan Bonfigli Master's Cup and Dan Bonfigli Day

Today is a sad day for the New England tennis community. We've lost one of our brightest stars. Dan Bonfigli was a tiredless ambassador of tennis. His coaching of players at all levels, and particularly with juniors and high school players ,was recognized all over the state. Dan was a fine player, an excellent teacher, and a phenomenal promoter of the game . His volunteer work as a member of the Jeff Stone Memorial Tennis Tournament Committee will be sorely missed. Several years ago Dan initiated the Jeff Stone/Vermont High School Tournament, with the winners earning a berth in the main draw. Dan also served as the official photographer of those tournaments. In Dan's honor the Master's Division of the Jeff Stone tournament will be known as the Dan Bonfigli Master's Cup. Last summer, immediately following the Jeff Stone tournament, I ran a Dan Bonfigli Day at the Windridge Tennis Camp in Roxbury. Dan was so full of energy and enthusiasm that day!!! He participated in the wooden racquet event and followed that up with nine holes of golf. Therefore, in Dan's memory, I would like to continue that wonderful day on an annual basis, with all of the proceeds going to Dan's family. Dan Bonfigli: Family Man; Friend; Promoter, Ambassador of Tennis. We will miss you. You have left us for greener pastures.
Your warmth and friendship will remain in our hearts forever.
Ted Hoehn