Obituary of Vernando J. Bonsignore

"Vern" – age 88 of Elmira, N.Y. passed away on June 12, 2018.  He was born on March 12, 1930, the son of the late Nicholas Bonsignore and Elisa (Martino) Bonsignore.  He is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Elizabeth (Collins) Bonsignore; son, William Bonsignore and daughter-in-law Holly of Basking Ridge, NJ; daughter, Elizabeth “Betsy” Bonsignore of Gillette PA; daughter Rebecca “Becky” Bonsignore and son-in-law Steven Bellows of Watkins Glen, NY; brother, Francis Bonsignore and sister-in-law Susan of Scarsdale, NY; brother-in-law F. Maxcy Collins and sister-in-law Judy of Irvine, CA; beloved grandchildren Sylvan Bonsignore-Burch (Laura Veon) and Nicholas B. Bonsignore; great grandchild Alice Anne Burch and several nieces and nephews.

Vern graduated from the Elmira Free Academy in 1948, forever proud of the Class of ’48, and of having been elected class president in his senior year.  Thereafter, he earned both a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in education from Elmira College and a law degree from Brooklyn Law School.

For several years after having graduated from law school, he served as a bodily injury adjuster and was employed by insurance companies in Elmira and in Syracuse NY.  His career as a practicing lawyer spanned some 40 years.  He was one of the founders and first Executive Director of what was formerly known as Chemung County Neighborhood Legal Services, an organization established to provide legal services to low income and vulnerable individuals in the County.  Subsequently, he joined with attorney Donald Cole to form the law firm of Cole & Bonsignore, and spent the next 13 years practicing law in Chemung County and its environs, specializing in family law.

While with the Cole & Bonsignore law firm, he was appointed to serve as a part time Assistant County Attorney, a position in which he prosecuted cases of child neglect and abuse in the Chemung County Family Court.  During this time, he also took pleasure in teaching evening classes at Elmira College focused on civil and criminal law. 

Vern left the Cole & Bonsignore law firm to accept an appointment offered by the NY State Office of Court Administration, and for the next 17 years served as a Hearing Examiner in the Chemung and Schuyler County Family Courts where he heard and decided cases of spousal and child support.

He retired at age 72 and spent the remainder of his life devoting time to his family and to the care and maintenance of his home in the Town of Elmira which he often jokingly referred to as “The Estate.”

At his request, there will be no calling hours.  Interment will be at the convenience of the family.  Those wishing to remember Vern may do so through a donation made in his name to a charity of their selection.