Family and community honor David Bonner’s legacy of love and support

Luke Bonner remembers the belief. The unwavering support his father gave him, his brother and his sister. They all felt it.

“I think he believed in me more than I believed in myself. I never felt like pressure to pick up a ball,” Luke, the youngest Bonner, said. “If you’re going to do something, do your best, and do it with pride.”

As a referee at Green Street Community Center, and even at his kids’ basketball games, David Bonner never showed any favoritism.

Matt Bonner, who retired from the NBA in 2017, recalled his father telling him once, “Should have gone off stronger and made it anyway,” after he got fouled on the way to the hoop.

Becky Bonner remembered wanting to quit volleyball after not making the varsity team. Her dad made her stick with it, and she was glad she did.

Dave Bonner, who died surrounded by family on May 6, traveled far and wide for his kids alongside his wife, Paula. They went to Hungary to see Luke play and make sure he was enjoying life out there. At the NBA Finals to watch Matt, he met Bill Russell. In Louisville, visiting Becky, he sat with Muhammad Ali.

David Bonner was worldly, but took pride in his hometown.

After losing his mother at a young age, he was raised around many neighbors and friends and became entrenched in his community.

He lived in Concord his entire life, except for his time stationed in Germany with the United States Army. He was a proud veteran and will be buried at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery.

He knew the city like the back of his hand from his time as a mailman. Luke Bonner said it was a miracle he ever finished his route because he always stopped to chat since everyone in town knew him so well.

He frequented Milano’s Pizza, the Gas Lighter and plenty of places around town.

It would be an understatement to say he loved basketball.

He played during his time at Concord High and continued playing locally until he slowed down a bit; even then, he kept refereeing.

All three children, Matt, Becky and Luke played at the highest levels of the game.

His children’s pursuits took him many places. As their careers blossomed, they were constantly approached by people who met their father. His booming voice, sense of humor and charisma always left an impression.

He had a knack for instantly remembering every detail someone told him and cracking quick jokes. That wasn’t a facade he put on for the stars either.

Dave and Paula Bonner went to every game they could and offered unwavering support for their children.

Becky called him the original women’s basketball fan. “My dad’s been there from day one, and he’s always championed me. He’s always championed anyone, like any of my teammates or friends,” she said.

David was authentically himself. Becky, thinking back now as a parent herself, admired his effortless commitment to putting the family first and being involved. He juggled multiple jobs to make sure they had what they needed.

He knew everybody. Becky, who works in the front office for the Orlando Magic, still gets stopped by media personalities, assistant coaches and former players asking about her dad as she travels around the country.

Despite being an extremely grounded person, the only time she truly saw him starstruck was when he met Ali. They drove around in a golf cart and watched a football game together in Louisville.

Sometimes he wasn’t awestruck enough. She remembered him falling asleep during a San Antonio Spurs practice, and legendary coach Gregg Popovich asked Dave Bonner if they were boring him.

“My dad gets up, and they’re playing five on five, and Tim Duncan’s at half court on a bike. He’s not participating that day, and my dad walks over to him and starts chatting him up,” Becky Bonner recalled. “And (Popovich) is like, ‘Bonner, I’m trying to run a practice here.'”

Way before the Spurs, going into the 2000 NCAA Final Four with Florida, Matt remembered head coach Billy Donovan giving a big speech.

He asked his team to write the name of the most important person in their basketball journey on their wristband.

Whenever things got hard, they had to look down at the wristband, Matt recalled Donovan saying. Matt wrote his dad’s name on the wristband.

Now, 26 years later, Matt Bonner found that wristband tucked away in a box. He had no idea Donovan sent the wristbands to the people they were about.

“I completely forgot about it. It just makes you think about how important your parents are,” he said. “And especially for me, my dad and the amount of support he gave me.”

He made sure the kids followed through with whatever they did.

Once, he promised them 50 bucks each to haul a mound of stones into their neighbor’s backyard after the delivery guys dumped them in the front.

The Bonner kids said they’d do it, but barely made a dent after six hours. They wanted to quit. He reminded the kids that they had agreed to the deal, and they spent the next 10 days finishing.

He was kind, uncompromising, charismatic and humorous. Nothing got by him, no person too small or challenge too big.

Bonner’s celebration of life will take place Sunday at the Concord High School gymnasium at 10 a.m., the same place where so many family memories were made. Luke said his father asked, with a smile, for all eight minutes of “Stairway to Heaven” to play at the event.

Paula Bonner said it’s been tough to even go day-to-day without her life partner of 48 years. They met on a blind date in the 1970s and fell in love.

Every time she sits down to rest, someone new knocks on the door to offer condolences. That’s why they love Concord, and Dave knew everyone. It’s what kept them around.

It didn’t matter who the person was, from stadium security to the biggest superstar, Dave was the same to everyone. He cared passionately about their children, not just because they were basketball stars but because they were good people. That’s why she loved him.

Luke said he’s accepted he can’t wrap his arms around everything his father meant and will be remembered for. Even now, his lessons persevere.

“I think energy for life and for community. And how important, just connections with people, no matter who it is, treating people right,” he said. “Being authentic to who you are.”