Francis Bernard Bonass

Francis “Frank” Bernard Bonass of Chestertown, MD, passed quietly on Monday evening, November 27, 2017, after a brave battle with cancer. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, on July 3, 1948, to John and Margaret Bonass. The youngest of three boys. he attended Castleknock N.S. in Dublin and later, Lucan Technical School. He is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth “Betty” (nee O’Connor); his sons, Darren (Carolyn), John (Deirdre), Frankie (Jessie) and daughter Jennifer Weiner (Joseph); his grandchildren Christina, Aidan, Maeve, Ramey, Marley, Conal, Gillian, Aisling, Kieran, Maggie, Fiona, Nora, Anna and Baby Weiner who is due on December 25. Frank was a successful retail shop owner and clothing manufacturer in Dublin, Ireland, in the 1970’s and 1980’s. In the late 80’s, he applied for visas for the family to try their luck in the United States. In June 1990, the Bonass family left their home in Ashbourne and landed in New York, as Frank said, “with the woman, four kids, and twelve suitcases” heading for the Philadelphia area. Frank’s career in the restaurant business began at McCloskey’s Pub in Ardmore, PA. It was apparent from the start that he had a natural way with the business and decided he’d like to own his own restaurant one day. He and Betty established their first restaurant & pub in Betterton, MD, in 1997. They named it the Dublin Dock. Not only was it a great success, Frank and Betty made many friends there. In 2001, they opened O’Connor’s Pub, their second restaurant, in Chestertown, MD, where Frank honed his chef skills, earning awards and widespread praise for his recipes. Frank, a fan of all sports, especially Gaelic Football, was a faithful supporter of the “Boys in Blue” even making it onto the front page of the Dublin newspaper with the1995 All-Ireland championship team after their win at Croke Park. He touched many lives and was beloved by his family and a wide circle of friends around the world. A Viewing will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2017, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home in Chestertown. Services will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. at Shrewsbury Church in Kennedyville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Co., P.O. Box 296, Chestertown, MD 21620 or the American Cancer Society, Lung Cancer Research, 8400 Silver Crossing Oklahoma City, OK 73132.

Francis Bernard Bonass

July 3, 1948 - November 27, 2017