The RDGA is mourning the loss of East Rochester’s Dave Bonacchi, who passed away on Christmas Eve at age 62 following a short but courageous fight with cancer.
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Bonacchi, one of the Rochester area’s top amateur golfers for many years, won the 1994 New York State Amateur Championship in a memorable final match with his brother, Paul Bonacchi. Hosted by Cobblestone Creek Country Club, the 1994 State Amateur was, at that time, played in single elimination match play format, with the Championship Match being contested over 36 holes between the two remaining contestants. The Bonacchi brothers battled each other through 34 holes before Dave closed out the Championship with a 3-and-2 victory.
Following his State Amateur triumph in 1994, Bonacchi’s attentions turned more towards his political life and away from golf. Having been a career police officer in East Rochester, Bonacchi ran for – and won – the East Rochester Mayoral race n 2000, going on to serve two four-year terms in that position. A year after becoming Mayor, Bonacchi admitted to Rochester Democrat & Chronicle writer Sal Maiorana that the State Amateur victory was only the second most thrilling thing to happen to him – following his close election-night victory that sent him to the Mayor’s office.
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 Dave Bonacchi
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In 2012, Bonacchi’s career took another turn when he was appointed East Rochester Town Justice, filling a vacant seat, then ran unopposed for a four-year term in 2013.In November, Bonacchi again ran unopposed for Town Justice – but by then, he had been struggling with a brain cancer diagnosis he had received over the summer. Sadly, that struggle ended on December 24, leaving behind his wife, Rosanne, and three sons.
The RDGA extends our deepest sympathies and prayers to the friends and family of Dave Bonacchi.
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