For Bonny Russell’s Celebration of Life on 2-17-13 at the Unitarian Universalist Church
Jan says about Bonny,
her wife, her love:
“She brought with her an open and loving heart,
the ability to listen deeply,
and a passion
for addressing injustice and inequality.”
And I know that to be true
as Bonny always listened to me intensely
back when
we were players in the school system,
when I would question how we could talk, say,
about integrating our schools
out of our mouths’
left side or right side
and not discuss
the millions upon millions
of our retirement funds
that were supporting
South Africa’s apartheid
out of any of our mouths’ sides –
and she’d counter the giggles
and the “Oh, there goes Ernie again” sighs
with “Ernie is right.”
She, most assuredly,
had a keen sense
of justice and equality,
a precise understanding
of the world’s inequities,
gifts that enabled her
to serve students well
along the lines of race and human relations,
helping their schools
go about integration
with integrity
and dedication,
working, as a principal, with student populations
with the greatest needs.
Oh, Bonny was a sparkling human being, indeed,
reaching beyond the schools
to serve a world in need
of love and devotion, of healing,
displaying her faith
that a better world
can become a reality,
aligning herself
with the First Unitarian Universalist Church
where she found a setting in which she could let
her love flow freely
as she did so naturally.
Through the church’s Social Justice Ministry she:
helped social justice leaders find their way,
addressing bullying and promoting equality in schools,
especially for those who are
bisexual, transgendered, lesbian or gay;
she organized the church’s participation in the PRIDE parade.
But her work towards bringing about marriage equality
stands out uppermost in my mind
as this has become
one of the burning issues of our times.
And since there is no love
stronger than the love that Jan and Bonny had for each other
one can’t help but think for the sake of people like them:
“It’s about time!”
But Bonny Russell
like all seekers of justice and equality
was all about time,
about taking time to do what must be done
to change a world.
And each of us here,
still alive
in this very moment in time,
have to commit ourselves
to taking the time
to continue such a pursuit
of a better existence
for all humankind.
That’s how we keep her
and those like her
from not leaving us in vain.
Her work is now our work
to maintain.
And we’ve got nothing but time.
Ernie McCray
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R.I.P. Bonny Russell
A beautiful tribute!
This is such a shock . Bonnie thank you for all the support to Sandburg School when you were with HR. I also remember your helping a brand new VP. My heart goes out to Jan. Ernie thank you for sharing this tribute
It was my pleasure writing down a few words about our dear Bonny.
Thanks, Ernie McCray
for your sharing at Bonnie Russell memorial service at Unitarian Church Feb. 17, 2013.
Your words were inspiring! Continue educating students and activists around you, Man!
Be well!
Damien Simeone, MBA
Founder- San Diego Voters Guide for Public Good
I will keep on keepin’ on. Thanks for the encouragement.
An excellent tribute to Bonny Russell, a true professional and passionate educator. My prayers goes out to Jan.
Willie Horton
Passionate is a very apt word for Bonny.
Dear Ernie-
Thank you for that wonderfully poetic commentary on the life of our dear friend, Bonny Russell. She was a woman who did so much for so many–as a person, as a school administrator, and as a Unitarian Universalist. She lead in many quiet ways, so that many of us could follow her fine example in life. My heart goes out to her loved one, Jan Garboski, in this time of grieving. Bonny will be sorely missed, but well remembered.
And the Celebration of Her Life today illustrated that she will, indeed, be remembered – fondly – by many people.
Hello John Falchi & John Schiably,
Bonnie Russell’s memorial service at Unitarian Church was lovely. I enjoyed my favorite music Adagio by Samuel Barber! 400 + persons attended by school colleagues, family and Unitarian Friends. Bonnie and Jan Garboski were such hardworking & active leaders for Equal Marriage Rights. Bonnie Russell you were a blessing to many of us! Many of us will continue social justice with action!
May you rest in peace, Bonnie!
Dearest Ernie,
As I slip into my first Mother’s Day without my mom, I find myself scouring the internet for bits of her. I hadn’t seen your wonderful tribute before. What a touching piece. Thank you for sharing with the world how special my mom was, and through all of us who knew her, continues to be.
~Shelly