BUONANNO, MARTHA (DODD), 68, of Providence and Narragansett, RI, died July 6 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston after a short struggle with cancer.

The wife of Bernard V. Buonanno, Jr., the mother of five children and grand mother of 17, she dedicated her life to her family and was so proud of each of them and the love they have for each other. In her free time, she was an active leader in many local organizations and causes, especially those involved in education.

Martha was born the fourth of six children on November 27, 1940 in Washington, D.C., to Grace and Thomas Dodd. She grew up in West Hartford and graduated from Mt. St. Joseph Academy. She went on to graduate from Trinity College in Washington, D.C. in 1962. She married Bernard V. Buonanno, Jr. in 1963 and lived in Rhode Island for the last 45 years.

Martha inspired many with her energy, charisma and great curiosity. She gave her time freely to many organizations, most notably as an active mentor in VIPS, Volunteers in Providence Schools. She was a member of The Wheeler School Board of Trustees, and on the board of the Providence Preservation Society and the RI Association of the Blind. She was also the chair of the National Advisory Board of the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center at the University of Connecticut, a teaching, research and service center named in honor of her father, the late Senator Thomas Joseph Dodd.

Martha traveled extensively, enjoying trips to China, India, Australia, Central America and Europe. She always returned to her favorite vacation in the Dominican Republic and summers in Narragansett, RI.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her five children, Helena Buonanno Foulkes and husband William Foulkes of Providence, RI, Bernard Vincent Buonanno III and his wife Heidi Briggs Buonanno of Providence, RI, Carolyn Buonanno Chase and her husband Michael Chase of East Greenwich, RI, Jody Buonanno Shue and her husband John Shue of Dover, MA, and Margaret Buonanno Lynch and her husband Sean Lynch of Wellesley, MA.

Martha also leaves behind her five siblings, Ambassador Thomas Dodd of Washington D.C., Carolyn Dodd of West Hartford, CT, Jeremy Dodd of Ansonia, CT, Senator Christopher Dodd of East Haddam, CT and Washington, D.C., and Nicholas Dodd of East Haddam, CT.

Martha loved her 17 grandchildren greatly and her memory will always be with them. She leaves Zoe, Owen, Lily and William Foulkes; Meghan, Nicholas, Kari and Peter Buonanno; Thomas, Margaret, Phoebe and Christian Chase; Madeline, James and Hope Shue; and, Austin and Cameron Lynch.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Martha will be Friday at 11AM in St. Joseph's Church, 92 Hope St., Providence followed by a private burial. Calling hours will be from 4pm to 8pm Thursday at Monahan Funeral Home, 230 Waterman St., Providence. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to Volunteers in Public Schools, 905 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903 or to Brothers of the Christian Schools (LI, NE, Providence), 635 Ocean Rd., Narragansett, RI 02882.

Published in The Providence Journal on 7/8/2009