Obituary

Leonard Joseph Bonnell passed away most peacefully at his Westport MA home on July 16, 2022.

Born in Boston April 20, 1935 the son of Nora and Wilford Bonnell. Graduated Medford High in 1953, attended Mechanical Engineering and Management courses at MIT, Harvard, Dartmouth, Lowell University, and Optics at UCLA. 1959 Graduate of the Massachusetts Military Academy, Platoon Leader in the Massachusetts National Guard and Company Commander, Heavy Weapons Company, Watertown Arsenal, US Army Reserve.

Leonard was employed by MIT, RCA, AVCO Corp. as a Designer and Project Engineer and Rorer Group as Surgical Products Division Vice President. In this period he developed missile guidance/airborn optical reconnaissance systems and the largest airborne telescope made in the world. He founded and was CEO/President of Optical Engineering Consultants, Dyonics, Leonard Medical, Monadnock Optics, Vipera Systems and Board Member of the Ben Franklin Partnership, Philadelphia. He was President of Dyonics at age 34 (now Smith & Nephew Endoscopy), Andover MA., where he invented and brought to market the "Shaver" cornerstone of arthroscopic surgery. He holds 14 Patents and many FDA approved products in the field of endoscopic surgery. They include: The Shaver, vacuum powered mechanical arms, infrared/visible endoscope, disposable endoscopes, soft tissue growth stimulation as well as helicopter lighting to appear as fixed wing aircraft for safety. The words Needlescope and Fetoscope are registered trademarks invented by Mr. Bonnell. His business activities brought he and his wife Carol to many cities across the US, Europe and Asia.

Len so enjoyed his time on the water. He most enjoyed being the Captain of his many Sailing Charters, sailing east, west and Caribbean ports, diving, snorkeling, looking at the undersea world he so loved with family and friends. Hiking with the Philadelphia Trail Club took he and Carol to wonderful destinations for exercise with wonderful friends.
Since moving to Westport in 2005 in retirement and be close to his family, Len has enjoyed the best friendships of his life, vacations, cruises and of course enjoying the view of the pool and all the Westport River has to offer, especially the many breeds of waterfowl. He and Carol would sit on the deck or in the kitchen discussing and admiring all the wonders of the land, river, and sky.

Leonard is survived by and dearly loved his childhood sweetheart and wife of 64 years Carol Bonnell, daughter Carol Clark, Westport MA, her husband Corby; son Robert Bonnell, his wife Sandra, Palm Coast FL; son John Bonnell, his wife Elizabeth, Hopkinton MA; Six grandchildren, Cadmon Clark, Chani Clark Shea, her husband John-Mark Shea; Alisia Bonnell, Erica Bonnell, Nora Bonnell, Angela Bonnell; his loving sister Marjorie Bonnell, Boston MA; predeceased by his brother William Bonnell 2008 in Plastow, NH.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to SouthCoast VNA (Hospice) or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are private.

Directions to Funeral Home