Bonnie E. Blackman of Gaylordsville, CT, passed away peacefully on Thursday October 19, 2017 at Regional Hospice in Danbury, CT, after a brief but exceptionally brave battle with ovarian cancer. She was 61 years old.
Bonnie was born on March 9, 1956 in New Milford, CT and was the daughter of the late David and Gladys (Brown) Parkinson and step-daughter of Norris Wildman. For her first years of grade school, she attended the Gaylord School; A One-Room Schoolhouse located less than a mile from her home in Gaylordsville. She later attended New Milford High School from 1970 to 1974. During this time it became clear that Bonnie didn’t want to be like the other girls, and she bought her first motorcycle.
Despite her adventurous side, she was proud of her perfect school attendance record, and worked just as hard in everything she did for the rest of her life. Bonnie worked in Banking for over 25 years, and before retiring in 2015 she was a Market Manager for Union Savings Bank in New Milford. She was also passionately involved in her community, and gave vast amounts of time to help make her town a better place. Some of the titles that Mrs. Blackman held and was awarded over the years include: past president of the New Milford Rotary Club, Paul Harris Fellow Award winner, past board member of the New Milford VNA, Girl Scouts of Connecticut Troop Treasurer, board member of the Tricentennial Committee, board member of the New Milford Chamber of Commerce, co-chair for the Red Cross Breakfast fundraiser, past board member of the United Way, member of the New Milford Downtown Business Alliance, and board member of Morningside Cemetery in Gaylordsville and Center Cemetery in New Milford.
Somehow in the midst of all this charitable work Mrs. Blackman also found the time to be an incredible sister, friend, and mentor. She was an endlessly supportive and loving mother to her daughter, even though Desarae ruined her Thanksgiving in 1990 when she was born prematurely on November 22nd. Bonnie was also the perfect companion to her husband David Blackman, whom she married in Gaylordsville on November 11, 2007. It was clear to anyone who knew them that they suited each other beautifully. She danced her way into thousands of hearts, and her memory will never be forgotten by anyone who had the pleasure of seeing her smile.
Bonnie is survived by her husband David Blackman of Gaylordsville, CT, her daughter Desarae Van Coughnett of Danbury, CT, step-daughter Darcy Wheeler and her husband Earl Wheeler of New Milford, CT, step-daughter Amy Blackman of New Milford, CT, sister Gail Turnquist and her husband Robert Turnquist of Gaylordsville, CT, step-grandchildren Julia, Jordan and Aaron Wheeler of New Milford, CT, and nephew Luke Turnquist of Groton, CT. Bonnie requested a celebration of life in lieu of a wake or funeral, date and time to be determined by her family. Contributions in Bonnie’s memory may be made to the New Milford Rotary Club or the Regional Hospice in Danbury, CT.
