BONFANTE, Joseph Anthony (Joey)

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 04/11/2014 Joseph Anthony Bonfante Joseph Bonfante, 73, died at 6:10 a.m. April 6, 2014, at Genesis East Hospital in Davenport, Iowa, due to lung illness. Joey, as his mother Diana called him, was born Feb. 6, 1941, in Highland Park, Mich., to Salvatore and Diana Bonfante. He is preceded in death by his parents and cousin Angelo Lombardo. He was one of three children. Joe is survived by his daughter, Breanne Moro; niece Krista Lombardo; and two sisters, Marion LaPointe and Josephine Esper. Joe was raised in Livonia, Mich. He served his country in the military from 1961-63. After the military, Joe slowly yearned to move out west. After making a few stops; one in Colorado and the other in Scottsdale, he soon found himself in the gorgeous White Mountains. He fell in love with the beauty of the pine trees and the small town community. He grew to be very active in the community of Pinetop. He began to intrigue all the local citizens of Pinetop when he bought Pinetop Salon from Mildred Dysterheft. Along with being a hairdresser, he was a member of the Pinetop Fire Department, under Gerald Penrod, and a volunteer for the Sheriff’s posse. He was a man of many talents and passionate about each one. Within a few years, Joe’s Italian cousin Angelo Lombardo moved to Pinetop to join in on the crazy shenanigans of the small town life. From that moment on, Joe and Angelo were helping create a small town full of enjoyment. They were involved in every thread of the community from building Saint Mary’s Church from the ground up to establishing the first Fall Festival Parade, to starting Joey’s Pizza. In 1984, Joe became a father at 42. It was a common sight to see Joe and his daughter Breanne all over Pinetop. He loved his daughter very much. He had many passions in life from cooking to gardening to his horses. He was a very unique and diversified man. Many would say he was complicated, but sometimes complicated is good because it demonstrates depth. Depth and authenticity is the definition of Joe Bonfante. For those who knew him well, they loved him. He was a master at his own creativity and he is a personality that we don’t come across too often. He will be missed greatly but he will never be forgotten, especially by his loved ones and the community of the White Mountains.