[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24150]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             IN HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE OF ALVA ``TED'' BONDA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 26, 2005

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of 
Alva ``Ted'' Bonda, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-
grandfather, brother, WWII Veteran, and dear friend and mentor to many, 
including me. Mr. Bonda's life was framed by tenacity, integrity and 
heart, and although he will be greatly missed, he deeply touched the 
lives of everyone he knew.
  Mr. Bonda will forever be remembered as a true renaissance man who 
possessed a high intellect, love for education and keen business savvy. 
He was born and raised in Cleveland and graduated from Glenville High 
School. He worked as a shoe store clerk and parking lot attendant 
before serving in the U.S. Army during WWII. Following the war, Mr. 
Bonda teamed up with childhood friend, Senator Howard Metzenbaum, to 
form their joint venture, APCOA Inc., which evolved into the world's 
largest parking lot company.
  Though an extremely successful businessman, Mr. Bonda's unwavering 
dedication remained focused on his family and the Cleveland community. 
Together, Mr. Bonda and the late Marie C. Bonda raised their three 
children, Penny, Joel and Tom. Mr. Bonda's faith in the City of 
Cleveland and love for its people was just as steadfast. When it was 
largely feared that the Cleveland Indians could be whisked away to 
another town, Mr. Bonda stepped up to the plate and convinced more than 
50 Cleveland business owners to purchase the team. As the Team 
President, he consistently dismissed out-of-towners looking to buy the 
team because they would not promise to keep the club in Cleveland. Most 
significantly, Mr. Bonda contributed to sports history and civil rights 
history by hiring Frank Robinson as the first African American Manager 
in the Major Leagues.
  After retiring from business, Mr. Bonda renewed his commitment as a 
proponent of education. As a member of the Cleveland School Board 
during the 1980s, Mr. Bonda led the successful effort in persuading 
voters to support the first operating levy in many years. In 1984, he 
was appointed by then Governor Richard Celeste to the Ohio Board of 
Regents, where he served as Chairman from 1998 to 1991. Mr. Bonda was 
also a trustee with Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass. In 1995, 
Cleveland State University's College of Urban Affairs awarded Mr. Bonda 
an honorary Doctorate degree.
  A staunch and active Democrat, Mr. Bonda's wisdom and advice was 
consistently sought after by political hopefuls. His leadership infused 
significant energy and results into the momentum of numerous local and 
national campaigns, including those of President Jimmy Carter, 
presidential candidate George McGovern, Senator Howard Metzenbaum, Ohio 
Governor Richard Celeste, and my own congressional campaigns.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance 
of Alva ``Ted'' Bonda. I offer my deepest condolences to his daughter 
Penny, sons Joel and Tom, daughter-in-law, Jodi; his grandchildren; 
great grandchildren; extended family and many friends.
  Mr. Bonda left this world with a legacy that will forever shine hope 
and light upon his family, friends and upon our entire Cleveland 
community. His joy for life, caring heart and concern for the people of 
Cleveland defined his life and resounds every spring with the first at 
bat; and will live on in the hearts of all he who knew and loved well, 
today, and for all time.

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