Obituary of Vincent Bonanno

December 12, 2020

It is with great sadness that the family of Vincent J. Bonanno announces his passing on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at the age of 52 years. Vincent will be lovingly remembered by his mother Grazia Bonanno, by his sister, Rosemary (Timothy) Stewart, and his brother Joseph (Jeanne) Bonanno. Vincent was predeceased by his father, Joseph J. Bonanno and younger brother, Domenick J. Bonanno.

Vincent attended Regis High School in New York City. He continued his education at Vassar College, graduating in 1990 with a degree in English Literature. Vincent studied law and graduated from Quinnipiac University School of Law in Connecticut. He went on to work at Schulte Roth and Zabel and Quinn Emanuel LLP.

He was not only our wonderful son and big brother, but also a loving uncle to his nieces and nephew.

A private graveside ceremony will be held for family on Friday, December 18, 2020, at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, Long Island.

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Happy Birthday in heaven, dear Vinnie. I think of you often and wonder what you'd have to say about this or that. Your wisdom and ways are never forgotten.


Posted by: Thelma Condon - COOPER CITY, FL - Friend January 6, 2022

I am so sorry to learn of Vinnie's death. He was a dear friend of my son James Kelley and was a wonderful help to me when my son James Kelley passed on September 22, 2020. May God bring comfort to his family.


Posted by: Marilyn Kelley-Cresci - Tucson, AZ - Friend February 15, 2021

Vinnie I will miss you always. You were an amazing person and a wonderful friend. I will miss our many vacations. Thank you for being there when my mom passed. I know she was there to greet you and welcomes you home. My family loves you and will never forget you.


Posted by: Lauren Ragudo - Oceanside, CA - Family Friend February 15, 2021

I will never forget you. Rest easy, my friend.


Posted by: Katie Dionne - Tucson, AZ - Friend January 6, 2021

Oh gosh Vinnie, I am going to miss you so very much! You have been so much more than a friend and so full of care! I will always remember the kindness you did for my mother. The kindness you have given me too. You've always been there for me bro for over 25 years good or bad. Never thought that would change and it is with a heavy heart I'll say goodbye bro, I am so sorry. You are a great guy. I will see you again. God bless, Sis Jo


Posted by: Sis Jo Lester - Green Mountain Falls, CO - Friend January 2, 2021

I met Vince in high school, reconnected online in 2010 or so, but our friendship really took off in 2014 or so. I will miss our periodic dinners at Outback Steakhouse on 23rd Street, our constant texting about DC comics superhero shows (we both loved them, and loved complaining about them), our shared love of The Prisoner, and a shared work ethic and sensibility regarding our careers. He was one of a kind: interesting, opinionated, gracious, and brimming over with interesting insight on anything that crossed his path. I will very much miss walking into Outback to see him waiting in his beige overcoat, umbrella over his arm, and reaching out his hand to me smiling and saying "hey pal....!"


Posted by: Vin Miller - New York, NY - Friend December 27, 2020

RIP Vinnie. The last time we chatted was via Facebook Dec 2nd. I am in shock. Sweet man. I will always value our discussions?


Posted by: Tanja Pineda - , - Friend December 25, 2020

Vinny, was my Facebook friend for last ) Years. A gentleman, an advisor and a gentle sweet man. He was always the words of positivity. He spoke often of his mom and how much he cared. My heart is broken. Earth lost a great soul. May he rest in Gods loving arms today and forever and watch over us, struggling through this new America. Love you friend. You shown a brilliant light! Z


Posted by: Zeida Causo - New York, NY - Friend December 24, 2020

Vinny was a Facebook friend who always went out of his way to encourage patience and positivity. He often spoke of his mom and showed how much he cared. He was a Patriot who loved this country to its core. He will be missed by so many that never met him personally but bonded with his Spirit and genuineness through a silly internet tool. May he rest in God’s Loving arms and watch over us, as he did in life. We love you, buddy!!


Posted by: Zeida Causo - , - Friend December 24, 2020

Praying for comfort for the family. We never met in person but a really great friend regardless.


Posted by: Gaylon Bennett - Chattanooga, TN - Friend December 21, 2020

I only knew you through Facebook, but you were my friend for 12 years and I adored you. So shocked to hear of this news. Heaven has certainly gained an angel..love you uncle Vin


Posted by: Reina Whitlock - , - Friend December 21, 2020

I met Vinnie also onFacebook and I just loved his humor. He was such a kind person and he will be missed so much. It was a pleasure to know you, Vinnie. Thanks fir being my friend. Rest in eternal peace. My sincere sympathies and prayers go out to Vinnie's family.


Posted by: Barbara Kaiser - Lake Ariel, PA - Friend December 21, 2020

My children and I met Vinnie on Facebook about 10 years ago.. we're all from New York we loved him like family... we always said that we would meet but we never did .. I just promised him no more than 10 days ago the next time we were in New York we would actually meet up ...my daughter and son called him uncle Vin and I called him brother... One of the saddest moments of my life When I found out this morning that Vinnie was longer with us... the world seems a lot more emptier without him...


Posted by: Rainbow Grayson - , - Friend December 21, 2020

RIP my longtime Facebook friend. You will be missed.


Posted by: Lucas Boyd - , - Friend December 21, 2020

Vinnie became my friend through Facebook. I enjoyed his wonderful sense of humor and kind spirit. I am so sad to hear of his passing. I will truly miss him. I will see you in heaven some day soon, Vinnie.


Posted by: Peggy Willoughby - Max, ND - Friend December 21, 2020

It is with a saddened heart that I am sending this message. Vinnie and I became very close friends via Facebook. We have talked live often and he has offered my some sound legal advice over the years. More importantly I consider him my friend. It has been an honor and privilege to have known him and to build a friendship. God puts people in your life for a reason and I thank God daily for allowing Vinnie and I to cross paths. He will be sorely missed. Take care my good friend. My sincere condolences to his family. God Bless you all.


Posted by: Thomas Bergquist - Pittsburgh, PA - Friend December 17, 2020

I worked with Vince at Quinn Emanuel. I was blown away by his kindness, patience, concern for others, and deep personal strength. In a very hard-nosed environment, Vince stood out for his grace under pressure. He is a model man, and I am feeling his loss. I pray for comfort for his family.


Posted by: ZACH WILLIAMS - WASHINGTON, DC - Coworker December 17, 2020

I worked with Vinny the last several years and we sat near each other. , I got to see him tirelessly working his craft and also during breaks got to know him a bit. He loved to talk about collecting watches, old school professional wrestling, which back in the day he used his Vassar degree in English Lit to write about in wrestling magazines (and how pro wrestling was the same as today’s politics, all a game), his side hustle of selling things online (I never figured out what he was selling), and his system on how to beat video poker and how his nickname among his friends in Vegas was “Double V.” Two years ago on "bring your daughter to work day" he was working on a deposition for that morning and was so kind to bring us down and show the set-up and explain the process and make it interesting for a 9 year old who he had never met before. This was a busy day for him and he had no issue making it special for her and showed no sign of stress even though he had many things to do. He was obviously well prepared and was highly valued by all that got to work with him. My daughter remembers how he let her help herself to the cookie tray in the room as well. Once this sad news spread through the office, I can say that I had never seen more emails get circulated to the entire office with a comment about what an amazing person he was and how he touched their lives with several people noting how thoughtful and kind he was. I certainly will miss him and missed seeming him daily since Covid-19. My condolences to his family and in particular his dear mother.


Posted by: Joe Bowley - , - Coworker December 16, 2020

I am so crushed hearing this news. Vincent's Mom Grazia lives in my building. She is a wonderful woman. Vincent was a gentle, polite, and friendly soul. Taken too soon. My condolences to Vincent's family. May he Rest In Peace.


Posted by: Thomas Curiano - NEW YORK, NY - Friend December 16, 2020

Vin was one of my best friends at Regis High School. He never failed to brighten my day with his humor and warmth. He was extremely supportive and kind to me/We had a great time walking up and down the streets of Manhattan when we were juniors and seniors visiting pizzerias and bookstores and other shops. I am very glad I kept in touch with him on Facebook these past few years and communicated with him as recently as last week. I feel fortunate and blessed to have known him and may he rest in peace.


Posted by: Ben Stein - Columbia, MD - Friend December 16, 2020

Vince....to think I am writing about you as opposed to writing to you is surreal. You were able to brighten any room with your optimistic personality and charming humor. I know I speak for everyone who was privileged enough to call you a friend when I say you will be deeply missed.


Posted by: Alexandra Marinello - Brooklyn, NY - Coworker December 15, 2020

Vince - Hard to believe and surreal that I'm actually writing this. Words can't describe the emotions that I feel losing one of my good friends in life. Through all the years I've known you, it was nothing but good laughs and having fun. You were one of the kindest people to not only come into my life but others as well. Rest In Peace my good friend. Best, Shiful Chowdhury


Posted by: Shiful Chowdhury - Woodside, NY - Friend December 15, 2020

Vin was my friend. I have many friends. However, he was one of the select few that I called paisan. I met Vin in law school. Everyone called him the Vin Man. He stood out from the other law students. Most of us were intimidated by the professors. Vin was not. He was bold. He was not afraid to let his sense of humor show in class. He was one of the funniest individuals that I have ever met. When we graduated law school, we were faced with a problem. We were the first graduating class from what was then called the Bridgeport School of Law at Quinnipiac College. No one would hire us as lawyers. Vin got a job doing temp work at a prestigious law firm as a paralegal. Vin would make lemons out of lemonade. Vin got assigned to doing computer tech litigation support. He became an expert at assisting lawyers at trial with a laptop. People today might not see what the big deal was with Vin doing this type of work since this is common work today at a law firm. We graduated law school in 1993 before Windows 95 came out! There were not a lot of people that were trained to do this kind of work in the 1990's. At the time, he was probably among the highest paid graduates of our law school class because he was trained to do this work. Hanging out with him one day, I discovered that he wouldn't just give money to the homeless on the street. He would talk to the homeless people in his neighborhood and get to know them. He knew them by name and introduced them to me. Vin got bored with life in NYC and he moved to Las Vegas. He became Vinnie Vegas. He loved living in Las Vegas. He created a successful law school preparation business. Yet another accomplishment. He told me that after his Dad died, his Mom asked him to come home. Vin gave up on Las Vegas and he came home to be with his Mom. I admired him for his selflessness and his devotion to his Mom. His Mom will be in my prayers. My condolences to the Bonanno family. I will miss my friend.


Posted by: Matthew Guadagno - Brooklyn, NY - Friend December 15, 2020

Vince was my "neighbor" at work. We sat next to each other and talked everyday. He wasn't only my colleague but became a great friend. I am still processing this news and am in great shock. I will miss Vince dearly. He was one of the best people I knew.


Posted by: Melissa Rutt - Brooklyn, NY - Friend December 15, 2020

I've worked with Vince for several years, and he was always the sweetest and kindest person. He genuinely cared about seeing how you were doing, how it was going, and just doing all he could to make your day better. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.


Posted by: Justin G - BROOKLYN, NY - Coworker December 15, 2020

I am a high school classmate of Vinnie and we stayed in touch on Facebook. He was really one of a kind: funny, smart hard working and loyal. I will miss him


Posted by: John McArdle - South Glastonbury, CT - Friend December 15, 2020

I worked with Vince for years, often closely, and he was the best kind of colleague you could hope for. He had a 'can do' attitude that never waivered, was kind and patient, hardworking, and always kept his sense of humor. He'll be deeply missed by us all.


Posted by: Toby Futter - New York, NY - Coworker December 15, 2020

To Vinnie's Family, Though I did not know Vinnie in real life, I have been communicating with him since 2008. In many ways, I felt like I knew him and considered him a great friend. He will be greatly missed. May he rest in eternal peace. Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Bonanno family. May the grief that you feel now be replaced by fond memories.


Posted by: Thelma Condon - Cooper City, FL - Friend December 15, 2020

I am shocked to learn of Vince's passing. We were just texting last week. My heartfelt condolences to all. Mark


Posted by: mark richman - South Salem, NY - Friend December 15, 2020