Maynard lost a very special member of our community a few weeks ago. Bonnie Winokar, age 81, died unexpectedly on July 24th. 

Bonnie and her wife Mary lived in Maynard for 37 years, first in a big rambling house on Brooks Street, then in a beautifully renovated ranch on Mayfield Street and finally, Camellia Gardens.  They were the first people to move into the new all-inclusive retirement community. Bonnie and Mary loved Camille Gardens and the community there loved them back. Bonnie was an activist in that community, just as she had been for many years in the broader Maynard community. 

Bonnie was an educator. She was a retired math teacher and continued to teach, counsel and mentor many in our community. She was a member of the High School building committee, a member of the MA Democratic State Committee and was an active member of Maynard’s LGBTQ community. 

Her energy, her fierceness, her love for this community will be greatly missed and certainly not forgotten. Bonnie was a dear friend and mentor and I shall miss her as well as her wife Mary who has subsequently moved to New York to be near her children. 

Both Representative Kate Hogan and Jamie Eldridge posted heartfelt reflections about Bonnie on social media that I think are worth sharing here.  

Kate Hogan wrote, “I am heavy-hearted at Bonnie’s passing, but uplifted to see how many lives she touched. I feel blessed to have known her (and Mary.) Bonnie was a loyal friend and a tenacious fighter for important causes and lived and died a proud Democrat. I watched Bonnie and Mary with great admiration as they worked tirelessly advocating for marriage equality, in MA, two decades ago, always evoking the phrase: Love is Love. Well, we all loved you very much, Bonnie, and will miss you beyond measure. Oh, Mary, I am so very sorry for your loss; there are no words. Condolences to family and friends. May the memories of Bonnie’s warmth, strength, humor and commitment bring comfort and strength during this difficult time.”

 Senator Eldridge offered the following reflection: 

“I am deeply saddened to have learned over the weekend about the passing of longtime Maynard resident and friend Bonnie Winokar. I’m thinking of Bonnie’s wife, her entire family, friends, and the tight-knit community of Maynard neighbors and residents so close with Bonnie. Bonnie was also a fierce Democrat, and a constituent and friend who was perfectly comfortable to let her elected officials know how she felt about an issue or politician, whether federal, state or local! 

For those who were active in the marriage equality fight beginning in the early 2000s, many may remember Bonnie and Mary for being on the frontlines of fighting for same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. In November 2003, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled 4-3 that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. Immediately, a conservative legislator filed a Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage. 

The fight was on to defeat it. Bonnie and Mary were front and center at many of the committee hearings and rallies to convince enough legislators to vote against the bill to ban same-sex marriage. Seeing Bonnie and Mary at the State House, an older couple deeply committed to one other, telling their story, full of love, working to move legislators to vote against discriminating against the LGBTQ community on a long-sought for right, was extremely heartening for those us in the Legislature. I will miss Bonnie’s feistiness, sense of humor, and standing for justice.”

Visit here to view her official obituary.