Dr. Bonnie Robinson-Gallaro of Colts Neck, NJ passed away on Monday February 12, 2024 surrounded by her family at Bayshore Medical Center.   Bonnie was originally from East Norwich, NY before settling in Colts Neck, New Jersey.  Bonnie graduated from Syracuse University (1978), then went on to medical school in Tampico, Mexico and completed her Fifth Pathway at Huron Road Hospital in Cleveland, OH and New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY (1985).  She completed her postgraduate training at New York Medical College (Lincoln Hospital (1986-1989).  Bonnie then completed her fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of Illinois (1989-1992).  In 2004 Bonnie joined the private practice of Dr. Nuri Kalkay (Holmdel Gastroenterology Associates).  Bonnie later established her own private practice (Robinson-Gallaro Gastroenterology Associates in Holmdel, NJ).  She was on staff at Bayshore Medical Center and Riverview Medical Center.  She was president of the medical staff at Bayshore Medical Center for three years and received the 2019 Doctor of the year award at Bayshore Medical Center.  Bonnie was dedicated to providing the highest level of care for all her patients and was beloved by her colleagues, patients, family and friends.  She truly was a bright shining star and a beacon of hope for everyone that knew her.

Bonnie is survived by her husband Greg (26+ years) and her son Cosmo, siblings Tommy (Debbie), Jimmy (Mary), sister in-law Joan (John), brother in-law Robert (Debra) and many nieces, nephews, cousins and so many friends.  Bonnie was preceded in death by her father Philip, her mother Norma, her mother in-law Mary and her brother in-law Michael.

Bonnie had a heart of GOLD and a love for her family that was endless.  She fought a courageous battle with breast cancer and was able to live a blessed life despite being bedridden for 5 years from the side effects of chemotherapy.  During this time she was still able to celebrate a few special milestones, Greg’s 65^th birthday, Cosmo’s college & master’s degree graduation and her own 65^th birthday! Through her perseverance she continued to enjoy holidays and share special occasions with family and friends.  Bonnie left us too soon but gave us a lifetime of memories we’ll treasure forever!  Our home was always open to all and she made everything feel very special for many family events.  The kitchen was her favorite place where she loved creating, preparing, and cooking for family and friends.  She also loved to relax at the dinner table to laugh and share good/bad times.  As a family we vacationed at many different places such as Florida, California, Maine, Vermont, Cape Cod, Pennsylvania, Nashville, Italy, Bahamas, Caribbean Islands, Niagara Falls, Michigan, Boston and Chicago to name a few.  She was loved and will be missed by all who knew her.  So until we meet again may God keep you in the palm of his hand.  Ti Amo. We love you.

Visitation Wednesday, February 14th 2:00 – 4:00 pm and 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 South Holmdel Road, Holmdel.  Mass of Christian burial Thursday, February 15th 10:15 am at St. Leo the Great Church, Lincroft.

Donations may be made in Bonnie’s memory to Breast Cancer Research Foundation, www.bcrf.org.

Do You Believe in Magic:

Dear Bonnie,

Today I am speaking to you on a very different level but somehow/someway I know you can hear me.  You know I can remember the very first time I met you.  It was at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx (1986).  You were a medical resident coming out of a Grand Rounds lecture.  I was a pharmaceutical representative and when I introduced myself to you I was so swept away by your blue eyes.  To this day they are the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen.  We became friends quickly and this was the beginning of our journey through life together. Then you accepted your fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of Illinois.  I found myself either flying you back home for a weekend or flying out to Chicago to visit you.  We found so many great things to do in Chicago (restaurants, horse & buggy rides, music clubs and much more).  Those were some of the best years of my life!  We both believed in magic. Of course I’ll never ever forget proposing to you at “Scoozi’s”, our favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago.  I had the accordion player play “That’s Amore”.  You completely changed and enhanced my life Bonnie.   A few years later we were married at St. Dominic’s in Oyster Bay and we had one of the most amazing wedding receptions ever.  We honeymooned in Italy and had the time of our lives.  We even attended a mass given by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.  Our marriage was truly blessed, especially with the birth of our beautiful son Cosmo.  You were such a wonderful wife and mother. You worked so hard to balance your life as a medical doctor, wife and mother.  Not an easy task but you did it gracefully.  I know Cosmo meant the world to you.  You were so proud of his accomplishments with music, sports, achieving Eagle Scout, and going to Stevens Institute of Technology.   He was the center of your universe.  And he will always be the center of mine as well.

I was always so proud of your professional achievements and accolades; Chief Medical Resident at Lincoln, private practice, President of the Medical Staff at Bayshore Medical Center, 2019 Doctor of the year at Bayshore Medical Center.  You were loved by everyone who knew you (family, friends, colleagues and patients).  We became and stayed best friends (soulmates) and that will never ever change.  That is my eternal promise to you.   This lyric in Amazing grace will always resonate with me;

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now I’m found

Was blind, but now I see

All I can say now is I’m a better person for knowing you, loving you and having been loved by you.

“May the road rise up to meet you.  May the wind always be at your back.  May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains Fall soft upon your fields.  And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.”

“One Love One Lifetime”

Your loving husband,

Greg

Love Will Find a Way:

Over the past five years throughout the course of her illness Bonnie and I learned to take life one day at a time. Our priorities changed and so did our relationship.  She was now a cancer patient and I was now her caregiver.  Our journey faced a huge hurdle. I saw how cancer took away her vanity and her ability to practice medicine.  It was the chemo treatments that knocked her down and off her feet but Bonnie was a fighter and she never ever gave up. She became disabled and bedridden but over time she adapted and always kept her chin up. I would often read her this quote from the movie Rocky. “No one will hit you harder than life itself.  It doesn’t matter how hard you hit back.  It’s about how much you can take, and keep fighting, how much you can suffer and keep moving forward.  That’s how you win”.  We opened our hearts to each other and to the Lord above.  And we knew love will find a way.   We believe in the power of love, the power of prayer and God Almighty.

I want to take a minute to talk about one example of Bonnie’s dedication as a physician.  Not too many people know this but Bonnie worked in Manhattan on 23^rd street and was on staff at Beth Israel Hospital on first Avenue and 16th^h street.  On 9/11/2001 she was driving into work as usual when the attacks occurred.  I called her to turn back but she insisted on trying to get in.  After a few more phone calls from me and being stuck in the worst traffic jam ever she decided to turn around and come home.  However, as soon as she was able, maybe the next day or two, she was able to get in with special approval as a medical physician.  She treated many of the victims including firemen and police officers.  She would tell me horror stories of what they looked like and what their injuries were. I bring this up not only to point out what a dedicated physician she was but to also say in my opinion this is where and how she got her breast cancer.  She continued to work in Manhattan for a long time after never missing a beat thinking the air and environment was safe.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer In June, 2018.  There was no family history of breast cancer.  I made several attempts to get her into the 911 emergency medical fund but she was denied because the line of demarcation was 14^th street to battery park.  Getting financial support would have helped but it wouldn’t change a thing in terms of Bonnie’s choice to be there and deliver medical care post 911 in Manhattan.  Again, this is only my opinion on where and how she got her breast cancer but the facts are that she is as much a hero as anyone else who was involved with the 911 attacks.  She will always be my best friend and my hero!!!

I would like to thank our family and friends for all their love and support throughout the years of Bonnie’s illness.  I especially would like to acknowledge Bayshore Medical Center and all the doctors,nurses,techs and therapists that helped her over these difficult years. I also want to thank the VNA team and Universal Health Navigators for everything they did for her at our house. The Colts Neck First Aid squad and police for always being there when we needed them!

At this time I would like to ask everyone to please stand to celebrate and applaud the life of my beautiful wife and best friend Dr. Bonnie Robinson-Gallaro.

Thank you,

Gregory Gallaro (Husband)