Charles Louis Bonasorte

Please keep the family and friends of Charles Louis Bonasorte in your thoughts and prayers. Chuckie was 70 years of age, lived in Hazelwood, and Graduated to a Greater Glory in Jesus Christ on Friday, December 13, 2024. He was born November 11, 1954 to the late Charles “Ringy” and Maryann Coppola Bonasorte. He is predeceased by his brother Francis J. “Monk” Bonasorte. He is survived by Erika Stanford his beloved fiancée her children Madeline (Alaric) Guy, Scout Stanford (Nick Allen), and Beau Weber; He is also survived by his loving sister-in-law Beverly Bonasorte and her precious sons T.J and Rocky. 

Chas played for the 1985 Morningside Bulldogs as a Safety-1st Team All Conference. Chas was a honored member of the 1976 University of Pittsburgh’s National Championship Football Team. Chas was known as the Kamikaze Kid for his fearless and ferocious tackling on special teams. Chas was the outside,           t-shirt vendor who owned the Pittsburgh Stop on the corner of Forbes and Bigelow across the street from the Cathedral of Learning. Chas was loved by so many for his daily words of encouragement, his smile, and his jokes. He always had to jag-around with everybody who walked by. His philanthropy went far and wide and was anonymous. If he ever called you "Bodine" you knew you were a good friend!

Chas was an established member of Narcotics Anonymous who openly shared his experience, strength, and hope for 36 years. His positive attitude and never quit persona were hallmarks of his wonderful personality. 

Chuckie was the first freshman to ever play Division One football. He played both football and baseball at Pitt. And, he was a competitive bowler.

Chuckie loved and generously supported the Pitt Pathfinders. He called the Pathfinders, “Pitt’s A-team”.

Chas lived to stay clean, work hard, be honest, be a friend, help, love Jesus, do the right thing, and he lived for Pitt.

If you knew him as Chas, Chuck, Chuckie, the Kamikaze Kid, or the “t-shirt guy in the hat on the corner” you knew his bigger than life personality. Chas grew up in Hazelwood, graduated from Bishop Boyle High School, attended University of Pittsburgh as a Speech Major and played on one of the best kickoff teams in the Country. Chas who was called a “search and destroy missile” played on the specialty unit as well as the punting team performing many acts like the one time against Southern California when he lost his two front teeth on the field only to pick up his teeth off the field and go back in on the next play. His final year was with Coach Johnny Majors which led to Pitt winning the 1976 National Championship, a 12-0 year, undefeated. Many have said that they were the best team ever. After graduating in 1976, Bonasorte did not forget his ties to the University, and he set up a restaurant in Hazelwood called ‘The ChasMar Bar’. Every week of the football season for five years, his mother, who made “the best meatballs and spaghetti in the country” would serve dinner to Pitt’s entire offensive line before games. Bonasorte decorated the bar to be “Pitt headquarters” by adorning it with blue-and-gold helmets, jerseys and replicas of trophies. In 1980, a fire destroyed Bonasorte’s creation, forcing him to find other ways of giving back to the University he always loved. In 1989 Chas bought 5 pair of Pitt shorts for $5.00 each, then went up to Pitt outside the Union Hall and sold them for $15.00 each. That gave birth to the Pitt Stop. Since that inauspicious beginning, Bonasorte has never deviated from the basic model of selling official, quality, merchandise at affordable prices for the students. Chas had a mission to feed and clothe the homeless in Pittsburgh, PA. It must be said how important his clean date was to him. Chas never took one narcotic throughout his entire 6-year battle with cancer that involved over 30 procedures. He lived “one day at a time” and personified the motto “just don’t pick up”. He lived every day for Jesus, the University of Pittsburgh, Narcotics Anonymous. and those he loved. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.

Visitation with the family will be Saturday and Sunday, 2 PM until 8 PM at the Vereb Funeral Home, Inc. (formerly O’Connor’s), 5106 Second Avenue, 15207, 412-521-8116. The Celebration of his Life will continue Monday, December 23, 2024 at 10:30 AM at the South Hills Assembly of God, 2725 Bethel Church Road, Bethel Park PA 15202.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the St. Vincent De Paul Council of Pittsburgh, 3048 Pioneer Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15226 www.svdppitt.org