BONAGURA, MICHAEL J.

GREEN BROOK — Michael John Bonagura, 69, a retired teacher and dean of students, died Wednesday [March 31, 1993] at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield.

Born in Belleville, he lived there before moving to Green Brook.

Mr. Bonagura was a 1949 graduate of Seton Hall College and earned a master’s degree from Seton Hall in 1952.

His 38-year teaching career included 27 years as a history teacher and department chairman at Middlesex High School, several years teaching at Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains and six years as dean of students at Oratory Prep School in Summit. He was a member of the National Education Association and the New Jersey Education Association.

Mr. Bonagura was an actor on Broadway and off Broadway during the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in such productions as “Inherit the Wind” with Paul Muni and in Tennessee Williams’ “The Rose Tattoo.”

He served in the Marine Corps during World War II with the [3rd] Raider Battalion during the battles of Tulagi and Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. He was vice commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Green Brook.

Mr. Bonagura was preceded in death by a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Hope.

Surviving are his wife, Gertrude T. Bonagura; a daughter, Laura A. Dowd of Athens, Ga.; two sons, Michael John Jr. of Franklin, Tenn., and Marc D. of Green Brook; a brother, Peter of Belmar; three sisters, Rose Martino of Toms River, Mary Tagliareni of Millstone and Edith Petillo of Belleville; and four grandchildren.

Arrangements are by Sheenan Funeral Home in Dunellen.