with young lawyers on client matters , I try to demonstrate various ways to help clients solve their legal issues in a professional manner .”
Despite the awards and accolades bestowed upon Bonasso throughout his career , serving as the firm ’ s managing member has meant the most to him .
“ I thank my partners for the confidence and support they have shown me in that role over the past three decades ,” he says .
During the course of his career , Bonasso has served in leadership roles with the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia , Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel and USLAW NETWORK while also coaching for the Kanawha Valley Youth Soccer League and volunteering with Ambassadors of Compassion , a mentoring program at West Side Middle School .
Likewise , Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso has always prioritized the importance of giving back to the community . Each year the firm participates in programs that provide pro bono work and free legal advice to underprivileged community members and has teams that serve the YMCA , YWCA , Boys & Girls Club , Ronald Mc- Donald House , The Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity .
Growing up in North Central West Virginia , Bonasso did not always want to move to Charleston , where he and his wife still reside , but relocated for his first job in the 1970s and was surprised at how much he loved it .
“ We found it to be a wonderful place to live and raise our family ,” he says . “ Three of our six children also live and work in the Kanawha Valley , finding it to be a great place for their own families .”
Bonasso ’ s family and family history mean a lot to him , as his maternal greatgreat-grandparents came to Greenbrier County from Ireland in the 1850s and his paternal grandfather immigrated to America from Italy at age 16 .
“ Uneducated but not unintelligent , unsophisticated but not afraid to work hard , my grandparents taught their children to work hard , be honest and be good at what they did ,” he says .
Perhaps because of his familial roots , West Virginia and its people are a little more important and meaningful to Bonasso .
“ People who are from West Virginia and people who move here know what a wonderful state it is ,” he says . “ Even with its problems — and everywhere has problems — the state is beautiful , the people are genuine , and it is still a great place to work and raise a family . I was blessed to be raised and educated here . WVU provided me many relationships and connections that have only deepened as I have grown older . As we see troubles and turmoil in so many parts of our country today , I am so thankful to live in a state that has given my family a wonderful place to live and grow but also a place
that lives in relative peace and respect for our neighbors .”
While he has accomplished a lot in his personal and professional life , Bonasso still has a few things he would like to do , including traveling and continuing to give back to those in need .
“ I want to continue to travel to Central and South America and Greece to work with the churches and mission groups that are doing so much good for the poorest of the poor ,” he says . “ I hope to expand my work with disaster relief teams to those who serve people in the U . S . when natural disasters strike . We have seen so many hurricanes , tornadoes , fires and floods in our country . There are service groups that are looking for volunteers to come and simply help clean up , dig out and rebuild . That is on my list .” •
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