Ernest Peter Boniface

Ernest Peter Boniface, age 98, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 14, 2024 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Ernie was born in 1925 to Ida Bonifacio (nee Ossi) and Peter Bonifacio.  In 1962, like many immigrants to America from Italy and other lands, they made a small change in their name to assimilate to their adopted land.

Ernie did not like formal schooling and received permission from his parents to quit school in his freshman year of high school.  He soon saw an opportunity to volunteer in the Navy, and with his parents’ blessing, he did so.  He celebrated his 18th birthday in the North Atlantic seasick.  He was assigned to the USS Core, a baby flat top aircraft carrier, which rattled and creaked making you think you were not on a solid ship.  His ship was part of a greater fleet of ships including destroyers escorting convoys of cargo ships laden with supplies for the war effort crossing the Atlantic to Europe.  His early assignment was to scan the water’s surface to spot German submarines.  The German’s succeeded in sinking 650,000 tons of these supplies along with seamen.  Ernie’s convoy successfully got through at least two times.  He also worked in the ship’s sheet metal shop and the electrical department honing his skills that proved beneficial in the future. 

In his youth, Ernie developed a very industrious nature and had many jobs wherever he could make a dollar.  Among his many jobs was sheet metal forming, newspaper delivery, auto sales and as a caddie where he developed his love of golf. 

A most wonderful thing enriched his life when he met his future wife, Margie Menk, at a community dance.  He and Margie planned and built their first home on Grieves Terrace in Wayne.  While working full time, he managed to finish that home in one year.  Their marriage produced six children, 16 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.  In April, they would have been married 75 years.

His first serious career move was with the sheet metal workers union where he was elected Business Manager.  Partnering with Art Udland they established Bonland Sheet Metal Company eventually building a facility in Wayne.  Ernie was a visionary not afraid to innovate and bring refinements and technology to sheet metal work.  He was the first to describe sheet metal using numbers instead of pictures enabling the use of computers to advance their product manufacturing.  An interesting aside to this story is that Ernie would sit at his kitchen table with Margie using his new system folding paper simulating sheet metal to make sure his idea worked back at the shop.  As time went on, Ernie bought out Art and took over all management until his retirement when his sons took over management.

Ernie joined the Wayne Rotary Club.  During his membership he headed the Polio Plus Fund Drive exceeding the success of other Rotary Clubs in North Jersey.  Because of these efforts, polio was eradicated in much of the world.

Among his many adventures in life, Ernie took an interest in aviation after taking a introductory flight in 1959.  As time went on, he earned his pilot’s license eventually earning his instrument rating.  Margie was often a passenger … Ernie often said a very brave one!  As a couple, they had several scary incidents but also a multitude of wonderful flying experiences.  Later in life, they would winter in Vero Beach, Florida flying their own Mooney airplane.

Surviving are:  His wife, Margaret, his daughter Cathy Hecht (Bill predeceased), his son Bill (Debbie), his son Andy (Cyndi), his son Joe (Darlene), his daughter Jackie McKennon (John), 16 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.  Also surviving are his sister, Louise and his brothers Peter (Dolores) and Tom (Sigrid) and many nieces and nephews.  Ernie was predeceased by his son Paul (Marisa), his sister Theresa, his brothers Rudy and Lenny, grandson, Larry, and his great grandson Callen.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or VNA & Hospice Foundation, 920 37th Place #101, Vero Beach, FL 32960 and would be greatly appreciated by the family.

If you are unable to join us for the Funeral Mass, on Saturday, you are invited to join virtually on this livestream link before the Mass.this livestream link before the Mass.