Thomas Robbins Bonifield

Dr. Thomas Robbins Bonifield, age 61, died of cancer May 18.

He was born July 1, 1942 in Evansville, Ind.

He prepared for vocational church service at the Vancouver School of Theology, Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry and the Olympia Diocesan School of Theology. His field education was with the Episcopal Maritime Ministry where he served as associate director. He also earned a BS from the Indiana University School of Medicine and a master’s and doctorate degrees in philosophy at the Pennsylvania State University Graduate School.

He was commissioned as an officer in the United States Public Health Service in 1966.

While on active duty, he served initially as an environmental health officer for indigenous Alaskan communities; his duty included the development and presentation of field environmental health service delivery procedures for the United States Peace Corps and Army Special Forces.

Following graduate studies in environmental epidemiology and environmental psychophysiology, he served as senior medical scientist for the Division of Indian and Alaska Native Health.

He worked on a number of pioneering projects, including the first application of satellite linked medical diagnostic imagery from remote Arctic Public Health facilities to specialty diagnostic centers, reducing the need for medical evacuation of patients. The project was conducted in collaboration with the United States Army and National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

He was medically retired, due to loss of central vision, from the United States Public Health Service with the rank of commander following 14 years of active duty.

On Dec. 11, 2002, he took vows of Life Profession as a Solitary anchored to the Bainbridge Parish of St. Barnabas.

The Rev. Webster Barnett, his mentor in ministry, stood with him as his vows were received by the Rt. Rev. Sanford Hampton, Bishop Assistant, of the Diocese of Olympia.

He was also licensed in pastoral care and leadership, and was a professional member of the Association of Military Chaplains and the Assembly of Episcopal Healthcare Chaplains.

He was a life member of the Blinded Veterans Association and the Disabled American Veterans Association.

In accordance with the Vietnam Era Readjustment Act, he was appointed as a civilian senior medical research scientist in the United States Public Health Service; there, he served as scientific director of USPHS’ Operational Medicine Informatics Laboratory, with units at the Naval Undersea Medical Institute and Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory in Groton, Conn.; the Naval Health Research Center in San Diego, Calif.; and the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., as well as in Seattle.

The family moved to Bainbridge Island in 1978 upon his assignment to the Public Health Service Marine Hospital in Seattle.

He served the island community as a charter member of the Bainbridge Island Trails Committee, and as chaplain for the Visually Impaired Persons support group.

He was also an ordained elder and founding member of the church Spiritual Formation movement at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church.

Since his retirement from the United States Public Health Service in 1997, following 32 years of service, he served disabled and aged people on the island as part of the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church pastoral care ministry.

In 1990, he received the highest civilian award granted by the Public Health Service from the Surgeon General in ceremonies at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., for “pioneering work and tireless dedication in the development and implementation of medical information systems for United States Public Health Service beneficiaries.”

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Connie Rollins Bonifield; son, Tom (Lauren) Bonifield, Jr. of Bainbridge Island; daughters Heather (Devon) Felise and Amanda (Yaro) Brock of Seattle; and granddaughter, Emma Rose Bonifield.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. May 29 at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church, Bainbridge Island.

Memorials can be made to the healing ministry at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church or the pastoral care ministry at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.