October 13, 2016

Peter J. Bongiorni, C.P.A.; retired accountancy professor taught for 34 years

Peter J. Bongiorni, C.P.A., an accountancy professor who taught at Providence College for 34 years, died on Aug. 5, 2016, at age 83. Mr. Bongiorni came to the College as an assistant professor of accountancy in 1974 and retired in 2008.

He taught Intermediate Accounting I and II for many years, as well as Auditing and the introductory accountancy course sequence. He treasured his time here and served the College in numerous capacities. He was a member of the Faculty Senate for many years and served on several of its committees. He served on the College’s Budget Committee, helping to review and approve all institution budgets. He also chaired one of the self-study subcommittees when the College was going through the accreditation process required every 10 years by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Mr. Bongiorni held degrees from St. Michael’s College in Winooski, Vt., and the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He was a past president of the St. Michael’s College Alumni Association and served on St. Michael’s Board of Trustees.

Extremely civic minded, he was a member of the Lions Club for more than 40 years and held several leadership roles, including as secretary, treasurer, and president. He also was the treasurer of the Rhode Island Lions Sight Foundation and the recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for humanitarian services — the highest award given by the Lions Club International Foundation.

A former U.S. Navy officer, Mr. Bongiorni served his parish, Our Lady of Mercy in East Greenwich, R.I., in many ways for many years. He was a trustee, a Eucharistic minister, a lector, and a member of the Finance Council and the school board.

Mr. Bongiorni was married to Mary Madeline “Lynn” Dinagen Bongiorni for 58 years. He is also survived by two daughters, Barbara Ann Cerwonka and Tara Ann Ajello, and two granddaughters.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on August 10 at Our Lady of Mercy Church in East Greenwich. Burial was private. Contributions in his memory may be made in care of: Providence College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 1 Cunningham Square, Providence, RI, 02918-0001.