Alfred Joseph Boniti
January 19, 1952 ~ September 3, 2021
Alfred Joseph Boniti, of Weirton, a dedicated educator for 43 years at Saint Joseph the Worker Catholic School in Weirton, passed away on Friday, September 3, 2021. He was 69.
Alfred was born in Steubenville, OH on January 19, 1952, one of three children born to Alfred John and Dorothy Foley Boniti.
Al graduated from Madonna High School in 1969 where he lettered in football and baseball.
He also played in the 1969 OVAC All-Star football game. He continued his education at West
Liberty State College where he earned a BA degree in education in 1973. Years later, Al
completed his schooling at West Virginia University with his MA in administration education.
His passion and enthusiasm for education continued when he began his career as a science and
math teacher at St. Joseph the Worker Grade School in Weirton. In 1987, he was promoted as the
school’s principal until his retirement in 2017, culminating a 43-year career in teaching the
students and guiding the teachers so dear to him.
Al touched the lives of thousands of young individuals, directing them to become accountable
and responsible citizens in and out of the classroom. He also lived a devout religious life to best
exemplify a path he wished his students to follow.
He also served as head coach for the Madonna baseball team and an assistant coach for the
Blue Dons football and basketball teams. Additionally, Al was athletic director and head coach
for the Junior Dons football program.
Al also brought his sports knowledge to the airwaves, teaming with his brother-in-law Mike
Garan to broadcast Madonna and Weir High football, basketball, and baseball games for 25 years
on 1430 WEIR Radio.
Most of all, Al was a devoted family man to which he offered an unbroken bond of love and
counsel throughout his adult life span. He enjoyed celebrating all family activities including
holidays and birthdays. He also spent countless hours building a collection of music from the
1950s and 1960s and rooting for his beloved USC Trojans football team.
Al was preceded in death by his parents.
He will be remembered with love by his wife, Patricia Ann Smoljanovich Boniti, whom he married on November 25, 1988; his brother, Charles (Libby) Boniti; his sister, Diedre (Larry) Wright; and several nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Sunday 3-6 PM at the Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main Street Weirton, WV.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 10:00 AM at the Saint Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church, Weirton.
A great friend, Fr. Michael McCormick will preside at the funeral.
Masks are required at the visitation and funeral.
Interment will follow at Saint Paul’s Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society givenow.lls.org
Share tributes at www.grecohertnick.com 304 748 3219
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Greco Hertnick Funeral Home
RIP
Our sincere condolences to the entire Boniti family. He was a treasure and will be greatly missed. He always made me laugh.
Many prayers…🙏🏻🙏🏻
Sympathy, love, and prayers for the Boniti family. 🙏✝️🙏
So very sorry to hear this news! Love and prayers to Al’s family and friends! 😢💔
Prayers to the Family, Very Nice Man!!!!
My sincere sympathy to Al’s family. He was a kind and gentle man for whom Sam and I and our four children had the greatest respect. A job well done, Al. Rest In Peace🙏✝️
Al Boniti family Vic NS I were saddened to hear about Al passing away. I considered Al a friend, he was there to help anyone who asked for his aide. The world lost a very special individual but you the family have lost a special unique individual who has left his legacy not only for you but for who ever wants to follow. God Bless Dave (coach) and Vicki Reitter
Thanks for everything you taught us.
Don and I are shocked and saddened to hear of Al’s death. We send our love and deepest sympathy to Patty and all of his family and friends, especially all of those of the St. Joe community.
So very sorry. Prayers for his family and loved ones.
Rest In Heaven, Mr. Boniti!! You were the best principal my son has ever had. Sending out so many prayers to your loved ones 🙏❤️
So sorry
Deepest sympathies and prayers to Patty and Family
Patti and Family, sorry to hear about Al. He was a good influence on many young men and women. He will be deeply missed. May God bless you all during this difficult time. 🙏🙏. Tim and Lisa
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Our sincere sympathy to Patty and family. 🙏🙏
He was a wonderful man very kind
So sorry to hear this – my family had such great memories with him. Rest In Peace Mr. Bo🙏🏻
Deepest Sympathy to Patty and family 🙏
My deepest sympathy for your loss, prayers and love to his family…..💔
So sorry for your loss. Love and prayers to the family💔
Love and prayers to Mr. Boniti’s family… he was always so kind to my boys we are saddened to hear this.❤️
Good man
So sorry to hear this. Deepest sympathy to the family.
Prayers for the family!
Patty and family, we are so sad to hear of Al’s passing. He was such a wonderful man to us and the boys. We send our deepest condolences. The Molyneaux Family
🙏
Our condolences to all the family. RIP Sir.
So sorry to Patty and the Boniti family. My deepest sympathy to you all. May he Rest in Peace. Donna DeMarco Zahn
Incredibly saddened by this news. I had him at St. Joe’s and he was one of the finest principles I have ever had. Heaven gained an Angel.
So sad to hear of his death. Sympathy to Patty and family. He was a very good person and will be remembered my many for all he did .
So sorry for your loss. Sending prayers.
So sorry to hear this. Our deepest sympathy! May His Memory be Eternal 🙏
My sympathy
RIP Mr. Boniti
My thoughts and prayer are with you and your family. R I.P.
Prayers
Rest in peace–prayers for your loved ones !
So sorry for your loss
Too young! My condolences
Love, Wes, Ashley, Darla and Larry.
Al was such a wonderful man to my children. He will always be remembered dearly but Wes, Ashley and me. When we needed help the most he and Patty were there for us. Thank you Al for everything. We will always remember how good you were to Wes and Ashley. And anyone who knows the baby powder and Wes story….and after you finish laughing……tells you how wonderful he was with my kids. He will be missed. Thoughts and prayers to Patty and the Boniti family.
So sorry for your loss 🙏🙏🙏
Such a wonderful man. ❤️🙏 Our condolences to the family.
One of my favorite teachers and coaches. Mr. Bo always had time for you. He was always fair. We lost a good one. Thank you for what you did for us.
Prayers
💝🙏✝️😍…..Thank you for the time you spent at St. Joe’s and for our friendship!🥰
My condolences. So sorry.
Prayers for the family
🙏🏻❤️ So Sorry to hear of Al’s Passing ❤️ Our Thoughts & Prayers are With the Family During This Difficult Time ❤️🙏🏻
PRAYERS FOR HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS ❤️🙏🤗🌺
Very sorry to hear this. God Speed Mr Boniti !!
This makes me so sad .
So many great memories of him durning my childhood school days .
My deepest sympathy to his family .
Our deepest sympathy to Mrs Boniti and family. Keeping you all in our prayers.
I am saddened to hear of Al’s passing. I taught under him at St. Joseph School for three years. He was always fair, kind, and supportive. Prayers for his family and friends.
🙏♥️🙏
So very sorry for your loss, sending prayers for your fsmily6
Our sympathy to the family
So sorry to hear this – so many memories- prayers for his family –
My thoughts are with his family and all who loved him.
🙏🙏
Keeping the Boniti family in my thoughts and prayers! I have many great memories of Mr. Bo’🙏🏻
May he Rest In Peace. Prayer to for Patty and all of his family.
Great guy RIP
Condolences to his family and friends. 🙏
Very sorry to hear this. Prayers for the family.
My condolences to his family.
Mr. Bo was a good man who gave so much to the students from St. Joe’s and Madonna. My condolences to the family. He will be missed.
Thank you for your dedicated service to Catholic Education. My sympathies to your family. Rest in Peace Me. Boniti.
Very sad, my condolences and prayers for the Boniti Family
You and your family have my deepest sympathy
So sorry to hear, Mrs. Boniti and family. Keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers. I have so many fond memories of Mr. Boniti. He was not only our principal, he was a nurse (helped with several nose bleeds), a coach (always cheering us on), and a friend. He will be deeply missed ❤️❤️
Patty,Dee and family, So so sorry for your loss. He was not only one of my teachers after he first started at St. Joseph but years later was also my boss. He was a wonder man and a great boss. I will never forget everything he did for my family and me. He will be greatly missed by many. RIP Al! 💔🙏🏻✝️
Prayers for the family🙏🏻❤️
So sorry to hear this . He was my first principal. Prayers to Patty and his family . 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Prayers to Mrs. Boniti and family. Mr and Mrs Boniti were so kind to our son as a student at SJS. Educators who truly cared for their students
My deepest sympathy.
Diedre and Family, Our condolences to you and your family. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless, Bill and Paulette Galiotos
Prayers
Do sorry to hear this news❤️
Rest In Peace Chief Bo!
This is very sad news! Mr. Boniti was one of the best teachers and coaches I had through my years at St. Joe’s; Jr. Dons and Madonna. Prayers and my deepest sympathy to his family.
So sorry for you loss.
So sorry for your loss❤️
So sorry to hear about Al. He was always a pleasant person.
So sorry for your loss! Condolences and prayers to his family! I went to school with him at Madonna–I graduated in “67! He was a nice person!
Condolences to his family. So sorry for ur loss.
Sorry for your loss
Our deepest sympathy Patty for Al’s passing, a wonderful pleasant man. May he Rest in Peace… Sincerely, Michael & Marlene Runkel
Al influenced the lives of many and recognized for his work with a Bishop’s Cross Award by Bishop Bernard Schmitt. What a great accomplishment for his many years of service to the Weirton Catholic community. Rest in peace my friend.
So very sorry to hear this! Our thoughts and prayers to all the family 🙏
So very sorry for your loss. Prayers and love to the family. 🙏💖
My deepest sympathy for all of Al’s family. He was a good friend and Weirton has lost a great and caring man.
So sorry
We’ll miss you Al💔Prayers for your family🙏🏼
Rest In Peace Mr Boniti🙏🏼
I remember Mr Boniti… he was a great educator. Very sorry to see this news of his passing. Condolences to his family and friends who know him.
Chuck, Diedre, and Family So sorry to hear of Al’s passing. Lots of good memories from 10th Street. Jimmy Musulin
Al was our classmate, he was always a nice guy. We enjoyed seeing him in church and around town through the years, and especially enjoyed old stories at our class reunions. We have moved away and will not be able to personally attend the services. Patty, we want you to know that we are praying for you and thinking of you during this very difficult time. Al was a special person. He loved his family, the children and people he worked with. Bob and I will miss seeing him. Our deepest sympathy.
Mr. Bo was one of the best teachers I had growing up–certainly one of the most memorable. He was an inspiration to everyone who had the honor and privilege of being his student. Sympathy and prayers for all the family.
Thank you Mr. Bo for all the guidance.
Chuck, sorry for your loss of brother, RIP Al.
May Jesus welcome him into heaven. Our sympathy for Patti and family, cherish his memory. Prayers lifted🙏
Prayers to the Boniti family. 😇
My daughter went to St.Joes. He was a great principal….
🙏🙏🙏
Patty and family, My deepest sympathy on the loss of Al. I loved coming to teach at St. Joe’s. He was already to help and find more kids for the gifted program! We would talk county news and then my family enjoyed listening to him on football Friday’s on WEIR with Mike. Al touched so many lives. The community will miss him. May the happy memories help you through this difficult time. Hugs and prayers 🙏🏻✝️❤️ Melanie Donofe
Patty, Chuck, Deidre and family, There are many wonderful memories I have of growing up with my friend Al. We played a lot baseball, football and basketball in the neighborhood. We spent many summer evenings on your parents porch on 10th St sharing our day and dreams Al was truly a wonderful man and always a calming influence. I am sorry for your loss. May the Lord welcome Al into the light of his eternal presence. God Bless. Matt and Beckie Provenzano
Mrs. Boniti and Family, Mr. Bo was a great Catholic Role model for all people he taught and coached. He treated myself, my sister and all three of my boys like we were his own as we were students at St. Joseph Grade School. He always had a kind word and always asked if he could help with out with anything which I was working on. We lost a good one down on earth, but our Lord got another Angel. Mr. Bo, RIP. Michael Arlia
Mr. Boniti was a wonderful man. Thank you for you many years of service to the Weirton community. Prayers for his loving family and friends who will miss him dearly.
Bo was a great person. He was a dedicated educator and coach. He took great pride in the success of Madonna athletics and catholic education. One special memory was when he and Denis Palcic brought in some “refreshments” into the locker room after winning the city championship vs Weir High our senior year. There is an excellent chance he and the great USC coach John McKay are talking about the 1974 Notre Dame vs USC game in heaven. God Bless you Bo. You will be greatly missed by the Weirton community.
When Al played in the ’69 OVAC All Star Game he broke his foot in the first quarter. He continued to play the entire game. That’s the kind of heart he had. God Bless You, we’ll all miss you.
There are so many memories of Al dating all the way back to the 1970’s. You will be greatly missed. We send our condolences to your wonderful family. Sincerely, Mike and Toni ( Orlando) Gurskey
A very special man, in ways too many to count.
Al was great to grow up with and work with. He had a sense of humor, a heart filled with kindness, and the patience of a Saint. He was devoted to Patty, family, friends and the kids of St. Joe’s and Madonna. What more could a person be remembered for and Al will be missed by many.
RIP Al. From the June Street playground to working with you when I was at the paper, I saw what a good man you were. Better for having known you buddy.