Suzanne Bongiorno is a newcomer to Mill Race Center, but not to Columbus. She was born and raised in Columbus and when she was nineteen she moved to California to live with her aunt and uncle. Suzanne recalls fond memories of her years in California. Living with a famous musician Ross Barber, one the Four Freshman, meant quite a change of lifestyle for a nineteen year old Indiana girl, but she managed to
fit in quite well, meeting important and other famous people. While in California she worked as a car hop briefly before pursuing nursing and can share some amusing stories.

Suzanne enrolled in classes to become
a LPN until a friend persuaded her to study for a Bachelors degree as a Registered Nurse specializing in the care of patients with Special Needs. This decision she made and never regretted. Today she still works in that field and thinks her clients are not only special needs, but special people.

Suzanne was married for 25 years and talks of spending her honeymoon in Menticento, California in a cotttage where Jackie Onassis spent her honeymoon. She has one son who still lives in California. He is a nutritionist and personal trainer whose main interest in life is preventive health care.

While living in Malibu you would find her making sandwiches for the hungry or working with Honey Coatsworth in her boutique—the proceeds going to those in need from floods, fires, and other problems. The world needs more people like Suzanne.

Time spent at Mill Race Center she serves in different roles on committees and as a volunteer. She also is taking an MRC art class and states the instructor Holly Melillo is an excellent teacher, artist and person.

Suzanne found herself moving back to Columbus because the need to care for her mother. Both of her parents were in the military, her father in the Air Force and mother was a Navy nurse. Her father was quite active in past years with the Senior Center. He also worked at Cummins and help set up the China plant. Even though her parents had known each other while living in Columbus, it wasn’t until they both were stationed in San Diego that they married. Suzanne’s sister is Nancy Lewis, head of women’s ministry at First Christian Church. Nancy’s husband is Greg Lewis the infamous president impersonator who teaches at Columbus East High School.

We’re glad to welcome Suzanne to Mill Race Center.