DCI mourns loss founding father George Bonfiglio
Legendary Drum Corps International Hall of Fame member George Bonfiglio, passed away Friday evening after declining health over the last several years. He was 79. One of DCI's founding fathers, Bonfiglio led the 27th Lancers Drum & Bugle Corps of Revere, Mass. for nearly two decades and was the very first chairman of the DCI Board of Directors. Legendary Drum Corps International Hall of Fame member George Bonfiglio, passed away Friday evening after declining health over the last several years. He was 79. One of DCI's founding fathers, Bonfiglio led the 27th Lancers Drum & Bugle Corps of Revere, Mass. for nearly two decades and was the very first chairman of the DCI Board of Directors.
Starting the 27th Lancers in 1967 with wife Patsy, who passed away in 2008, Bonfiglio directed the group until the corps disbanded in 1986. He is a Korean War Veteran and taught elementary school in Malden - Massachusetts for more than 25 years.
Bonfiglio was well known among the drum corps community for his forward thinking and resolve to keep his own group and Drum Corps International as a whole organizationally healthy and working toward a national spotlight.
No corps may have had more airtime in the late 70s and early 80s than the 27th Lancers whose appearances outside of the World Championships on PBS included time on the popular Mike Douglas talk show and as part of the opening ceremonies of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid - New York.
Bonfiglio is survived by his four children.
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