Bonnie Beth Wallace-Hoffman
Bonnie Beth Wallace-Hoffman of Mercer Island, WA, died of a massive heart attack on Thursday, March 3, 2011, ending her long battle with renal failure at the age of 69. Bonnie lived a full life that began on February 4, 1942 in Muncie, Indiana. She was the first of two daughters born to John F. Wallace and H. Emily Wallace (formerly Walter).Bonnie attended Cornell Uni-versity where she studied theater and graduated with her B.A. in 1964. Bonnie met her future husband Alan L. Hoffman at Cornell and they began their 18-year marriage in 1964. The couple settled in Mercer Island, Washington and had three daughters together. Their middle child Marisa died when she was six months old, but was always loved and never forgotten. Bonnie was passionate about theater and was fortunate enough to make a living doing what she loved. She was one of the first faculty members of Bellevue Community College, starting in 1970. She retired in June 2003 after 33 years of teaching drama and coaching dramatic productions at the college. Bonnie was responsible for building the drama department and overseeing the construction of the theater. She loved the college, the theater, and especially her students. Bonnie was also key in the development of the Bellevue Repertory Theater. She was the artistic director for the company’s summer productions of Shakespeare in the Grass. Bonnie’s plays were filled with her creativity, intelligence, and liveliness. Bonnie was a compassionate woman who cared immensely for others. Her house was often full of injured cats, squirrels, and on one notable occasion, a turtle dove named Seymour. Her home was always open to people in need, and she even went through the process to become a foster parent for her daughter’s friend because, “she needed a mom.” Bonnie cherished being a mother and a grandmother above all else and she was deeply loved by her family. Bonnie was predeceased by her parents John F. Wallace and H. Emily Wallace, and by her daughter Marisa Hoffman. She is survived by her daughters Sara J. Kelso (husband Seumas D. Kelso) and Gwynith E. Hoffman-Robinson (husband Lamar R. Robinson), her foster daughter My Lien Przybylski, her grandchildren Brennan D. Kelso, Erika L. Kelso, Helena M. Robinson, and Mila A. Robinson, and her sister Kathleen A. Smith-Andrew. Bonnie will be laid to rest next to her daughter Marisa at Sunset Hills Memorial Park and Funeral Home in Bellevue, Washington. Her memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 19 at 1:30 pm at Sunset Hills, 1215 145th Place SE, Bellevue, WA 98007. The guestbook and information about the service can be accessed at www.sunsethillsfuneralhome.com.
