Bonnie J. Janssen

Bonnie J. Janssen     

Passed away January 5, 2024, at age 80.   She is survived by her husband, Alf, who had been with her over 54 years.   Also living are two sisters (Christine and Joanne), two nieces, and four nephews.   A longtime Fremont resident, Bonnie was born in Los Angeles.  She soon relocated to Sacramento, where she really enjoyed her years at El Camino High School and made lifelong friends.  She enrolled at UC/Berkeley and graduated in 1965 with a B.A. In Geography.  After earning a teaching credential from San Francisco State University, Bonnie taught at a Richmond, California elementary school for a year.

When a friend told her about a Fremont Main Library job opening, she applied and was chosen. Her initial role was with Bookmobile services. Stints with children’s services in multiple branches followed.  During this period, she spent evenings preparing the dissertation which led to her award of a Master of Science in Library Services Degree from San Jose State University.  Bonnie made increased use of storytelling, using versatile skills involving costumes, stage sets/props, and the use of puppets. Team storytelling soon became a prominent part of her repertoire.  She joined and toured with a professional storytelling team, the Ninny Hammers.   She helped organized the first Bay Area Storytelling Festival.  Bonnie attended several of the National Storytelling Festivals in Jonesborough, Tennessee and expanded her network of contacts beyond the Bay Area.  Early on she joined the California Library Association and later became an active member of the American Library Association.  Prior to Bonnie’s residential move from Sunnyvale to Fremont in 1995, she was a member of Sunnyvale’s Library Advisory Board.  Bonnie qualified for the city’s Leadership Sunnyvale team and and helped organize and carry out earthquake safety drills in the neighborhoods.

Eventually Bonnie became head of Children’s Services at Fremont Main Library, where she was instrumental in overseeing the Booklegger Program, a cooperative venture with area schools to promote reading.  She retired in 2009 after a library career spanning 38 years.  At her retirement party there were the customary tributes.  Then, the decibel level went up sharply as the Pyronauts played a rousing set of surf rock.  Bonnie even got an impromptu drum lesson after the set.  She stayed connected with current and retired library staff by ay attending monthly birthday lunches honoring current and retired staff whose birthdays fell on the current month.

Bonnie often spent weekends at storytelling events/festivals.  She also enjoyed day trips to Bay Area beaches, parks, and open space districts.  Weekends also meant Bonnie could join Alf and attend Bay Area surf-rock performances at various venues.  As for vocal-based rock, she never wavered in her preference for Beatles music after attending their Cow Palace concert in San Francisco.  She looked forward to vacations by car and visits to friends and relatives in the Tahoe area, Reno, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.

Donations in memory of Bonnie can be made to Stanford Medicine:  Medical Center Development. Call (650) 725-4360 to arrange the contribution. Specify Cardiology Research, Cardiovascular Institute Research, or Cancer (type: where most needed) Research

There will be no public memorial service. Interment will be private (at Sunset View Cemetery, El Cerrito, CA).

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