Bruce V.A. Bonacker

Aug. 19, 1947 - Aug. 3, 1017

Bruce Van Alstyne Bonacker, San Francisco architect, community activist, and historic preservation advocate, died peacefully on August 3, after a battle with a rare type of cancer. During his illness, Bruce participated in an immunotherapy clinical trial and also took an experimental biomolecular drug in hopes of aiding medical science as well as finding a personal cure.

Bruce loved his adopted city of San Francisco and his family. He was loved by, and will be missed by, the family members he leaves behind: sisters Elizabeth Bonacker Stevens and Jeanne Bonacker Baum; niece Kathleen Cianfarani; nephews Peter Klein (Tracy), Jason Baum (Lisa), and Daniel Baum (Jennifer); and grand-nieces and nephews Nicholo Cianfarani, Victoria Cianfarani, Madelyn Klein, Griffin Klein, Gwendolyn Klein, Anders Baum, and Kirsten Baum. He will also be missed by his many friends in San Francisco and beyond.

Bruce was born in Albany, New York and grew up in the suburb of Delmar, NY. He received a degree in Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy NY. Bruce then joined VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), a national service program designed to help alleviate poverty. He was assigned to western NY State where he worked on designing housing for migrant workers. After his year in VISTA, he loaded his car with his architecture portfolio and a few belongings and headed for San Francisco, never looking back. He worked at Bull, Volkmann, and Stockwell Architects before opening his own firm, Bonacker Associates.

Bruce’s passion was historic preservation-- in San Francisco and beyond. He was active in numerous community improvement organizations. He was on the Board of the San Francisco Heritage, and active in preservation of the Haas-Lilienthal House, the Geneva Car Barn and other San Francisco landmarks. He was on the Board and past President of the Glen Park Neighborhood Association.

A memorial service is planned at the Haas-Lilienthal House on Saturday, October 14. Please RSVP to San Francisco Heritage at http://bit.do/BruceBonacker. Donations in his memory may be made to San Francisco Heritage, 2007 Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA 94109, or at www.sfheritage.org.