Linda Bonville: Always liked working with older individuals

Founded in 1966, the Cape Henlopen Senior Center has been in existence 56 years. Center Administrator Linda Bonville will have been working there for 44 of those years this December.

“My first day on the job was Dec. 4, 1978,” said Bonville, sitting in one of the center’s activity spaces. “Every day is a new day. You’ve got to love people, especially the older population.”

Bonville, who turns 65 in May, grew up in a family of 13 kids in the Midway area between Lewes and Rehoboth. She was No. 8 after her parents had seven boys.

“When I was born, the nurse told my mom she had just had a girl, and my mom said, ‘No, I didn’t,’” said Bonville.

Growing up, Bonville’s dad was a well driller and farmer.

“He tilled those fields near Midway when I was growing up,” said Bonville.

When asked what her mom did for work, with a you-heard-me-say-I’m-one-of-13 look on her face, Bonville said, “She was a housewife, raising kids.”

Two of her brothers have died, and there’s a few scattered around the south, but the majority of Bonville’s siblings are still here in Delaware. One of them is her sister Bernita Hackney, who’s also worked at the center for a long time – 28 years. Hackney also began her career at the center as secretary after Bonville moved to bookkeeper, but she is now program coordinator.

“Bernita has brought so many new activities to the center,” said Bonville of her sister.

Bonville graduated from Cape Henlopen High School in 1976 and shortly afterward received an executive secretary associate's degree from Brandywine College outside Wilmington.

“I had always wanted to be a math teacher, but that didn’t work out,” she said.

She said a member of her church approached her one day and asked if she would be interested in a secretary position at the senior center, and she said, “Yes, I’m looking for a job.” She’s been there ever since.

Looking back, Bonville said she didn’t necessarily expect to stay at the center her entire working life, but at the same time, she said she’s not totally surprised.

“This has been my passion, and I’m not the type to go job hopping,” she said.

Bonville said she got into secretarial work because she liked it. 

“It was a solid job, with an opportunity to deal with people,” said Bonville. “I also love typing and taking shorthand. I was pretty good at it.”

Bonville’s experience at the center hasn’t been all peaches and cream. Years ago, some members called for a leadership change, but she helped navigate the center through those challenges. She said she and the center came out the other end stronger.

“After being here for so many years, I wasn’t going to just give in,” said Bonville.

That said, the majority of her time at the senior center has been filled with fun memories.

“We’ve had some good times here,” said Bonville, thinking about the pancake breakfasts, variety shows and craft fairs. 

The saddest part about working at the senior center for Bonville is the inevitable loss of members who are in an age group closer to the end of their lives than the beginning.

“I have gotten attached to so many good people,” said Bonville.

Outside of the senior center, Bonville is an active member of Faith United Methodist Church, and she’s married to Diaz Bonville, who is also a Cape graduate and, among other things, co-founded West Rehoboth Children and Youth Program. 

“Everybody knows him,” she said of Diaz, rolling her eyes as lovingly as possible.

The Bonvilles have three daughters, and all three work in the school system.

“I guess we’re a family of service. The type who likes caring for the young and the old,” said Bonville humbly.

For the most part, membership has steadily risen at the senior center during Bonville’s time, but it took a hit during the pandemic. Pre-COVID, there were between 1,200 and 1,400 members; now, it’s close to 800, said Bonville. Some people refused to participate in the center’s online offerings and haven’t really come back, she said.

The good news is, people see the progress being made on the new senior center and are interested in coming back, said Bonville.

Looking ahead, Bonville said she plans to stick around until the new Cape Henlopen Senior Center is built off Hebron Road. Center officials announced recently they were in the early stages of developing a site plan for their six-acre plot just outside Rehoboth Beach.

“I’m looking forward to a bigger and better senior center. We need more room for all our activities,” said Bonville, who isn’t the only one who’s excited. “People are already telling me they really hope there’s at least six pickleball courts.”

Recognizing she’s now a member of the community she’s worked with for decades, Bonville said she’ll probably become a member after the new center is built.

“I just won’t be getting here at 8 a.m. anymore,” she said.