Joan S. Bonsignore, a Scarsdale resident who turned her own struggle with addiction into a 26-year mission to help others recover, died Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 85. Her family was at her side.
Bonsignore founded and led the Westchester chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, known as NCADD Westchester, building it into a White Plains-based organization that trains counselors, certifies recovery coaches and connects families to treatment. She served as executive director through the time of her death and was president of the board of directors from 2000 to 2005, according to an obituary published on Scarsdale Patch.
Before her nonprofit career, Bonsignore worked at Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester as assistant to the general manager from 1979 to 1985. She also served as office manager for ophthalmologist Dr. Alfred R. Bonsignore from 1968 to 1988 and taught business in White Plains and Jersey City, N.J., after earning a bachelor's degree in business education from the College of Mt. St. Vincent in 1962.
Her path to NCADD began with personal experience. Bonsignore faced her own challenges with drug and alcohol addiction in the late 1980s and sought help from the same organization she would go on to run for more than two decades.
Under her leadership, NCADD Westchester developed its Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor program, a 350-hour training approved by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, and its Certified Recovery Peer Advocate program, which prepares students to work in the substance-use-disorder field. The organization, at 250 Bryant Ave. in White Plains, also offers support groups, an impaired-driving program and referrals to treatment.
Bonsignore's stated mission was removing the stigma attached to substance abuse and championing prevention through early identification of addiction symptoms.
Beyond NCADD, she was a prolific fundraiser. In 1988 she served as fundraising chairperson for the re-election campaign of Westchester County Executive Andrew P. O'Rourke and chaired fundraising for the St. Jude Ball with Danny Thomas. She volunteered with the College of Mt. St. Vincent and the Coalition for Family Justice.
She is survived by her son Anthony Bonsignore; daughters Michele, Diana and Gianna Bonsignore; and five grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Alfred Bonsignore, and her sister Marian Lombardi.
Services
Visitation will be held Friday, Aug. 7, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Westchester Funeral Home, 190 Main St., Eastchester. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Aug. 8, at 9:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 53 Winter Hill Rd., Tuckahoe. Entombment follows at Ferncliff Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to NCADD Westchester at ncaddwestchester.org.
Upcoming community events
- Friday, Aug. 7: Drop-In Crafting, Scarsdale Public Library, 9:30 a.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 8: Mah Jongg Open Play, Scarsdale Public Library, 10 a.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 12: Garth Road Summer Concert (Live for the Music Band), Town of Eastchester, 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 12: Summer Kumzitz: Songs of Israel, JCC Mid-Westchester, 999 Wilmot Rd., Scarsdale, 7 p.m.
