Steve Bonifer

 
A message from Steve Bonifer (NA '68): 

I graduated from New Albany High School in 1968, but my relationship with NAHS goes back a little further. My dad graduated from NAHS in 1934, my mom in 1936. My two older sisters, Patty and Susie and my wife, Linda, all graduated from NAHS as did our three children. My granddaughter is currently attending Hazelwood Middle School. At this point, I think it's fair to say that our family is part of this school.

I never planned on becoming a teacher. I went to college to get an education, not a specific job. In 1991 I was asked to fill in for a teacher going through cancer treatment until he got back on his feet. I liked it more than I expected, so I kept subbing. By 1992, I was in the classroom full time, teaching government. I told every class the same thing for a few years: "I'm here temporarily." Twenty-nine years later, at 71, I finally retired from teaching. I haven't yet retired from coaching, though. You can still find me at NAHS's pool most days.

I started in competitive swimming in 1957 at Colonial Club, one of three swim teams in New Albany at that time. Those clubs fed swimmers into the high school program. Those pools are long gone now. The Camille Wright Pool (originally the Oasis) was replaced with the River Run Water Park. The New Albany Country Club also had a team. I got into coaching in 1983 as a coach with Riverside Aquatic Club and stayed there for 13 years and coached the NAHS team since 1991 and still do.

With the closing of outdoor pools and two middle school pools, the number of competitive swimmers dropped off drastically in the New Albany area. In 2024 I started the Mako Swim Club to try to increase interest in competitive swimming and a pipeline to high school swimming. Whether they compete is not important in the end, swimming is a life skill that saves lives and improves quality of life.

Improving quality of life for children is a worthy goal for every community. If a student needs something and you're in a position to help, you help. Whether you are a teacher, coach, administrator or community organization. That's why the food insecurity piece of the Foundation is very important. There are students who dread fall break, spring break and even Christmas break. Why? Because school is where the routine and the food are. My wife packs backpacks with Blessings in a Backpack every Thursday with a number of other caring people at Slate Run Elementary School. There are many others doing the same thing throughout our school district. They are improving the quality of life for students today which will have positive returns for these individuals and our community tomorrow.

Fifty-eight years after I graduated from NAHS, I'm trying to help make sure the students in this generation have what they need to make the road to success a little easier. Help me do that. Every gift, of any size, goes straight toward the kids and teachers who need it most.

Steve Bonifer