Rochester: March 19, 2014. “Ms. Bond the Music Teacher”. She is predeceased by her beloved husband, William Pharo; her parents, Robert & Stephany Bond; her sister, Carole Bond. She is survived by her extended family, Tim, Maryjo and Gabriella Smith; her cousins, Nancy (Peter) Palmieri, Wendy (John) Farino and family; good friends, Betty Ann Morley and Ed McCullough; Oasis Choir, teachers and students.
Ms. Bond graduated from the Eastman School of Music and was a music teacher first in Niagara Falls then for most of her career in the Rochester City School district. Rose always said, she never worked a day in her life because she loved teaching her passion of music to children. “A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove… but the world may be more musical because I made a difference in the life of a child.”
Her Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the Chapel of Peace Mausoleum at Riverside Cemetery, 2650 Lake Avenue, Rochester, NY 14612.
Special thanks to the wonderful, compassionate caregivers at Journey Home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Journey Home, 994 Long Pond Road, Rochester, and NY 14626, in Rose’s memory.
Rochester Cremation, 4044 W. Henrietta Road, Rochester NY 14623, 359-2300, RochesterCremation.com.
Rosalie, our dear cousin and friend, has always held a special place in our family’s heart. Her love of music, cats, and hat collection will always be her signature memory for me. I have wonderful memories from childhood and on up through the years, that I will cherish forever when her name is spoken. For after all, there is only one Rosalie, and I am proud to be able to say I was related to such a remarkable person.
We love you and miss you!!
Rosalie was wonderful neighbor. She transformed her garden into a bird sanctuary for which I had the pleasure every day of viewing from my kitchen window. Her love of life and music were prominently displayed in her warm smile and love of life: you truley made a difference!
Rosalie loved her family and spoke happily of her early life in Niagara Falls and Chautauqua. Though she was a fine enough violinist to be assistant concertmaster and soloist with the Niagara Falls Symphony Orchestra, her passionate work was teaching music in elementary schools. Rosalie did not just “teach music”. She taught the whole child, gave them experiences of fun, accomplishment and joy of living. Her students learned songs about holidays, history, citizenship, family – and they loved it. One of her notable accomplishments was leading the school in a performance of Scott Joplan’s Treemonisha. You can bet those kids will smile about the experience when they are in their seventies.
Many years after she had had them in her music room, grown people went up to her on the sidewalk, in stores and other places and said, “Hello, Miss Bond. I loved the songs. Thank you!” Two years ago Rosalie and I walked into an office, and the woman behind the desk remembered Rosalie from twenty years earlier and said, “Hello, Miss Bond.” Then there was the truck driver who called out to her in a bright and happy voice as he paused at a traffic light. Rosalie said this was payment over and over again for her years of teaching.
Rosalie was a very comfortable and able conversation partner. She could respond and talk about almost anything. We read and talked about some Hans Christian Anderson children’s tales. She was just as much at ease and thoughtful when we put The Prince by Machiavelli on the table.
The birds in her neighborhood might miss her too. Rosalie kept two birdbaths with circulating, splashing water in her backyard, and birds washed and splashed there continually. Rosalie delighted in how polite the birds were as they waited their turns.
We will miss her, but she left us with memories.
I’ve been in this business for 30 years and have woerkd for and with some pretty extraordinary people. I’m just sorry that you weren’t one of them, Mike. We only had a single interaction about a year or so ago when I called with a request about a meeting for a client with one of your departments. One call and BAM! Done. And done beautifully. So, once more, thank you for that single episode which I raved about to close associates immediately as a sign of who you and the agency are.A very dear friend DOES have a close relationship with the agency and knew of my admiration for you so shared recent news. Seeing THIS website as well as how your beloved agency has responded with We All Love Mike absolutely takes my breath away. It fills me with massive pride for the kind of people our industry DOES have in spades.But it is primarily your gigantic heart and incredible, candor (so generous and KIND) as exemplified in this blog that has had such a powerful impact on this industry peer. I’m very proud of the number of industry heroes I’ve come to know and admire over the years. What connects them all is that I knew and woerkd CLOSELY with each. You are my LATEST hero. And I don’t have to meet or work with you for the lessons you’re sharing here to last with me for my lifetime.God bless you, your family and your astonishing agency family. I’m sending every best wish your way and will keep you all in my prayers.
Since I quilt everyday (it’s my bussiens)it’s pretty important to me to keep my motivation…I load a great book on my MP3 or kick up the music and tell myself “I will quilt for a 1/2 hour and then take a break.” If I am really in unmotivated, I will take the morning off and run errands or go to the library or treat myself to lunch with a friend…sometimes you have to walk away for a while.
I searched for you for years and heard that you passed away. You taught me everything about music, you gave me my start with singing in front of an audience. You help me get a Scholarship to Eastman School Of Music when I was in 5th grade. I looked for you to thank you for paving the way for me and teaching me how to love music. You were amazing and I loved you very much Ms.Bond. I know your in heaven now but just know I carry you with me every where I go I love you!
Sincerely your student,
Ashley M