Frank Bonilla facts for kids

Frank Bonilla (born February 3, 1925 – died December 28, 2010) was an important American scholar. He was known for his work in Puerto Rican Studies. After earning his doctorate from Harvard University, he taught at several major universities. These included the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and the City University of New York. He helped start the Puerto Rican Hispanic Leadership Forum. He also founded the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at the City University of New York.

Early Life and School

Frank Bonilla was born in New York City in 1925. His parents came from Puerto Rico and moved to the United States when they were young. His mother hoped to go to college. His father was a cigar maker and served in the U.S. Cavalry. They met on the boat while traveling to the United States.

Bonilla grew up in East Harlem. This neighborhood was rich in different cultures and people. He remembered that children often learned many languages early on. They became bilingual to talk with people every day. Bonilla spent his first high school years at a Franciscan school in Illinois. There, he showed strong skills in academics and leadership. He loved subjects like classical Greek, Latin, Spanish, French, and German. He was also chosen as his class President. Later, Bonilla moved to Morris High School (Bronx, New York).

Serving in World War II

After finishing high school in 1943, Frank Bonilla joined the military. He was trained to be a mortar gunner. He served in the 290th Infantry Regiment, which was part of the 75th Infantry Division.

The Battle of the Bulge

The 290th Infantry Regiment fought in the Battle of the Bulge. This was a very important battle during World War II. Bonilla was on the front lines for almost a month during this intense fight.

After his time on the front lines, Bonilla was injured. He was taken to a hospital in France. After three weeks, he was sent to a different military base in France. There, he was asked to join the Puerto Rican National Guard near Frankfurt. He became a company clerk. Bonilla noticed that Puerto Rican soldiers had some differences. Those who grew up in the United States were sometimes looked down on by soldiers from Puerto Rico. They called the U.S.-raised soldiers "American Joes." Bonilla later said this military experience helped him feel more connected to his Puerto Rican heritage. It also made him want to study and become a scholar.

After the War

After leaving the military, Bonilla returned to the United States. He used the G.I. Bill to pay for his education. This program helped soldiers go to college. He attended the College of the City of New York. In 1949, he graduated with a B.A. degree in business administration. He then earned a master’s degree in sociology from New York University in 1954. Soon after, he received his doctorate in sociology from Harvard University.

For 20 years, Frank Bonilla led the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at CUNY. He was the founding director until he retired in 1995. He also helped create the Puerto Rican Hispanic Leadership Forum. This group worked to help Puerto Ricans in New York. Bonilla also co-founded the Inter-University Program for Latino Research. This program connects over 20 universities for research.

His Legacy

To honor Frank Bonilla, the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) created an award. It is called the Frank Bonilla Public Intellectual Award. This award is given out every two years.

Death

Frank Bonilla passed away on December 28, 2010. He was survived by his two daughters, a son, and five grandchildren.