Dr. Suzann Bonzo, MD

SUZANN M. BONZO, M.D.

Dr. Suzann M. Bonzo, 69, of Sciotoville, went home to be with her Lord on December 18, 2021. Born on November 2, 1952, in Scioto County, she was the youngest daughter of the late Gilbert and Agnes Sergent Bonzo.

Also, preceding her in death were three brothers, an infant Roger, Ronald Bonzo, and Richard Bonzo and a sister Dorothy Beadle.

Surviving are her sister-in-law, Bridget Bonzo of Sciotoville and six nieces, Sandra Bonzo, Sciotoville, Debora (Geof) Phillips of Wilmington, Terry (Jeff) Heffelfinger, Perrysburg, Maria Spriggs, Wilmington, Barbara Bonzo, Reynoldsburg, and Rebecca (Mike) White, New Hill, NC and four nephews, Matthew (Dorothe) Bonzo, Sand Lake, MI, and Philip (Jennifer) Bonzo, Gallipolis, James (Shawn) Beadle, Canal Winchester, and Kenneth (Allison) Beadle, Lithopolis. She has eleven great nieces and five great nephews; four great-great nieces, five great-great nephews and one great-great arriving in June 2022.

Suzann graduated from East High School in 1971 and from Ohio University, Athens in 1975. She received her medical degree from the Medical College of Toledo in 1978 and in 1981 completed her medical residency in Pensacola, FL.

In 1981 she returned to Portsmouth to begin her practice of Internal Medicine. Throughout her 40 years of service to the community she witnessed the local hospitals, Scioto Memorial, Mercy and Southern Hills expand and eventually merge to become the Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC). She was a pioneer of change and growth at SOMC. Her legacy and dedication to her field of medicine will be evident for years to come.

Dr. Bonzo was instrumental in establishing SOMC’s hospice outpatient program in 1984. She has been a strong advocate for the Inpatient Hospice Center since its inception in 2007. Dr. Bonzo was a tremendous advocate for and generous donor to the recent SOMC Hospice Expansion Project, which drastically expanded the facility to care for hospice patients. Fulfilling her calling to medicine, palliative care, and hospice, the lives of countless patients and their families have been touched throughout her years of service. Her commitment to hospice and palliative care has been honored by the naming the SOMC Inpatient Hospice Center after her.

Along with being a trailblazer for expanding the hospice and palliative care programs at SOMC, Dr. Bonzo served in an impressive number of roles at the community hospital. She chaired the Ethics Committee for almost 20 years as well as serving as chairperson of multiple other committees including Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Critical Care, Oncology and Pharmacy and Therapeutics. She served as the Chief of Medicine at SOMC in 1985 and 2004. She was a teacher and mentor to many medical students, residents, and nurse practitioners.

Dr. Bonzo received the Outstanding Physician Award from the Scioto County Medical Society in 2017 and retired from practice at the end of 2020.

Dr. Bonzo was an avid flower gardener, bird watcher, and baker. She found great delight in outdoor activities and traveling. Her most enjoyable and memorable times were with her family and friends, especially in the summertime in the pool.

Special recognition is given by Dr. Bonzo’s family for her caregivers and close friends who have generously cared for her in countless way. Their kindness, grace and mercy were gifts beyond measure.

The family of Dr. Bonzo would like to thank Dr. Bhuvaneswari Ramaswany and her colleagues at The Ohio State University Stephanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center for the exceptional care they provided Dr. Bonzo over the past five years.

Dr. Bonzo’s celebration of life service will be at 1 pm Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at Berean Baptist Church, Sciotoville. Interment will be at Memorial Burial Park in Wheelersburg. Visitation will be at the church for two hours beginning at 11 am.

Masks will be required for both visitation and the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the SOMC Hospice Endowment Fund or the SOMC Hospice Caritas Fund, 2203 25th Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662.

Arrangements are under the direction of the BRANT FUNERAL SERVICE IN SCIOTOVILLE.