Richard Bono, who ran Bono’s Small Engine Repair in East Hampton for decades, died at home here on Nov. 27. He was 86 and had been in declining health for the past year.
Mr. Bono, who was known as Bubby, was born in East Hampton on April 9, 1935, to Thomas Bono and the former Hazel George. He grew up here, developing a love of scalloping and clamming early on.
On April 3, 1964, he married Lois Leedham, and they reared four children. He worked in landscaping in his early years before opening his small engine repair business at his house in 1979.
“When customers came to the house to have their lawn mower fixed you would always find him in the garage with a cup of coffee in his hand. Once in a while he would have a pet raccoon running around,” his family recalled. “It was always a place where friends and customers came and ended up talking about older times. Most times more talking got done than work.” And because Mr. Bono could never remember anyone’s name, “he called everyone Cap,” they wrote.
In addition to the raccoon, he kept “a lot of different kinds of animals as pets,” his family said.
Mr. Bono “always put his family first, and welcomed everyone in, whether family or not.”
He is survived by his wife and by his children, Lucy Midgett, Richard Bono Jr., and Thomas Bono of East Hampton and Wendy Lupia of Hampton Bays. He also leaves a sister, Hazel King of East Hampton, and his grandchildren, Michael Midgett and Eric Midgett, Jessica, Ryan, Jason, and Kylie Bono, and Caitlyn Lupia. An older sister, Joan Deeley, died before him.
His funeral was held on Dec. 5 at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in East Hampton.
Mr. Bono’s family has suggested contributions to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach 11978, or the East Hampton Ambulance Association, 1 Cedar Street, East Hampton 11937.
