11 months ago
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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - After 32 years promoting Fresno City College, Kathy Bonilla's abrupt passing struck Fresno City College faculty, students, and alumni who each gathered successful the Old Administration Building's auditorium connected Monday to bid her farewell.
Senior Program Specialist Ernie Garcia emceed a memorial connected Monday that sought to bring the aforesaid tone Bonilla brought to Fresno City College, a tone of dignity and respect on with wit and fun.
"We wanted to onslaught a equilibrium that was fun, but besides paid a large woody of respect to that, the grant she had for this college," Garcia said.
Bonilla's memorial started with a Star Wars-style rubric crawl, paying homage to Bonilla's heavy admiration for the movie bid acceptable successful a postulation far, acold away.
The opening to the rubric crawl read, "The twelvemonth was 1961. On June 22, God knew Fresno City College and the City of Fresno would request a media adept with a keen consciousness of wit and a large heart. So helium created Kathy Bonilla."
Following the rubric crawl, Garcia invited the college's Interim President Dr. Kim Armstrong connected signifier to pb everyone successful the auditorium successful prayer.
"Dear heavenly father," Armstrong said. "I privation to convey you for sending your child, your beloved girl Kathy, to unrecorded among america and stock your emotion for humankind done her."
Following President Armstrong's prayer, on with a infinitesimal of silence, pupil Osmar Villa sang a rendition of "Amor Eterno," that echoed done the Old Administration Building.
"Amor eterno, eternal love," Garcia said. "just similar the emotion Kathy had for her household and friends. And past we each person for her."
As workfellow aft workfellow went up and shared their favourite stories of Kathy, the country rode a rollercoaster of emotions, knowing they would not beryllium capable to marque caller memories with their beloved friend.
State Center Community College District Chancellor Carol Goldsmith says Kathy was a bully person and mentor who was determination for Goldsmith's archetypal days arsenic Fresno City College President.
Goldsmith presented Kathy and her household with respective recognitions including a proclamation from the City of Fresno making the time "Kathy Bonilla Day."
Goldsmith besides work a legislature grounds successful which Congressman Jim Costa spoke astir Bonilla.
Mr. Speaker, I emergence contiguous to grant Kathy Bonilla, who made an interaction connected the assemblage done outpouring of emotion and compassion. Her wit and laughter volition stay a reminder of joyousness that she has filled countless lives with her kindness and emotion lived connected successful the memories of her loved ones and those who person the grant of knowing her.
Congressman Jim Costa (as work by Carol Goldsmith)"So contiguous everybody successful Congress volition hold connected 1 thing," Goldsmith said. "Kathy Bonilla was a Jedi Knight."
