Bonnie A. Morton Obituary

MIDDLEBURGH — Bonnie A. Morton (Dilzer), a resident of Middleburgh, New York since 2004 and previously of Lake George, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home surrounded by family members on Saturday, December 16, 2023. She was 81 and was afflicted with pancreatic cancer.

Born in New York City on November 13, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Kathleen Dilzer. Bonnie was married to William B. Morton for 54 years. They have two sons, Thomas and John Morton, who are both residents of California.

Bonnie grew up in Spring Lake, New Jersey and graduated in 1960 from Star of the Sea Academy, Long Branch, New Jersey. She received an award for serving as president of the student council. She also received a sterling Rosary for leadership from the Knights of Columbus.

Bonnie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history from the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York, Class of 1964. While at St. Rose she was selected as a delegate to the United Nations National Student Leadership Institute. Conference delegates were selected from all over the continental United States and Puerto Rico. At the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, conference delegates met with UN Secretariat personnel and with diplomats from many nations as well as experts in international affairs.

After college, Bonnie taught 2nd. and 3rd. grades at Sanford Street School in Glens Falls, New York, and at Corinth Elementary School from 1964 to 1968. She also taught in the elementary school in Berthoud, Colorado from 1969 to 1970. Always a serious student, she took advanced courses in psychology at Adirondack Community College where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with the highest distinction in 1984. She was a member of the Association of University Women.

Bonnie was a rehabilitation specialist retiring from the New York State Office of Developmental Disabilities after 25 years of service. She also worked at Warren, Washington, and Albany County ARC, a non-profit organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Bonnie loved to write. In 1997, the Lake George Arts Project Literary Review published her essay entitled "Hats". She also loved to garden, play the keyboard, and accordion, sing, dance, especially clogging, and downhill skiing. She and her husband Bill, especially loved spending time with their son's closest friends and being included in their social gatherings. She also liked to visit Middleburgh's pollinator gardens to catch a glimpse of Monarch butterflies and hummingbirds. Bonnie and Bill frequently went on what they called an "eagle patrol" to view bald eagles nesting about one-half mile from Middleburgh.

Bonnie loved her community of Middleburgh. In 2018, she volunteered for two years on the rewrite committee for the Town's Comprehensive Plan. More recently, she served on the town's planning board for three years. Never at a loss for projects, Bonnie assisted with the painting of Middleburgh's murals and quilt blocks along the Quilt Block Trail in Schoharie County, NY. She also was a co-founder of the Quilt Block Committee, and was very proud to be featured in Ginny Schaum's book: "Barn Quilts: Folk Art to Modern Obsession". Bonnie painted the welcoming sign to the Middleburgh Art Park. She also developed the interpretive sign for Timothy Murphy Park. She refinished the farmers market sign at the Social Gathering Place in Cobleskill, New York. Bonnie also volunteered at the after-school program sponsored by St. Mark's Church in Middleburgh.

Survivors include her husband William Morton, her sons Thomas and John, and his wife Terri, and their son Jace; her sister Laura Leonard (Dilzer), and her three nephews Shannon, Casey, and Ryan Leonard;. and her niece, Lisa Weinburgh and husband Joseph C. O'Brien, and their children Wondimu and Wotatwa Weinberg-O'Brien.

A Celebration of Life was held at St. Mark's Church in Middleburgh on December 18th. Bonnie, who had a strong bond with the environment, had a "green burial" in Vale Cemetery in Schenectady. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, NPCF, P.O. Box 189, Box Elder, South Dakota 57719 (phone 605 390-2707). During her years in Glens Falls, Bonnie served as a captain organizing neighborhood volunteers to solicit annual donations for the American Cancer Society.