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.