In Memoriam

It was my privilege to watch Carol Bonar serve as ASET’s Historian for the 20 years I was ASET’s Executive Director. I say “watch” because Carol was a self-starter who never needed direction. Carol’s tenure preceded and succeeded mine. She was a unique person and a memorable character. A hardworking technologist in a small Steubenville, Ohio, EEG lab, Carol volunteered for decades as ASET’s Historian and official photographer at the annual meetings. She documented official Society business for the newsletter and Journal, and she captured attendees’ experiences on film and occasional video. Carol created display boards of photos, and, with her husband Ron, she drove the accumulating collections to conference sites where she set up multiple display tables. Some years she created mementos for attendees, like an Oregon shaped, wooden pin to commemorate the 1994 ASET meeting in Portland, Oregon. Carol took vacation time and personally covered the costs for her film and travel for many years. When the ASET meeting was held in Orlando in 1985, Carol and Ron camped nearby, and their campsite was robbed! Her life was not an easy one. She had multigenerational family obligations and tragedies. Yet, she found time to train technologists, to volunteer, and even babysit her EEG physician’s children. Hardworking? Yes, extremely! Devoted? Absolutely! Cherished memories? Indeed.

– Fran Pedelty, R. EEG T., former ASET Executive Director

“The Lady Behind the Camera” is so fitting for this tribute to an individual who had no agenda; she was simply passionate about preserving the moments which allowed her to mingle with fellow ASET members at conferences. She once told me that she wasn’t very good at giving a speech or teaching a course, but she could contribute her other talents, and we all have benefited from those talents.

I first met Carol at an ASET meeting in Philadelphia in the mid-‘80s. I was walking into the lobby of the hotel, and someone said, “Smile!” and a huge flash erupted. When I was able to see again, the person was gone. Carol attended just about every ASET meeting on her own dime and kept the photo archives in her garage in Ohio. She, along with her husband Ron, would bring these pictures, depicting scenes of our members having a good time while learning, to share with conference attendees. I got to know her slowly over time because she flitted here and there so fast during the meetings, but when we did finally have the opportunity to sit and talk, I realized what a very special person Carol was. She loved ASET, EEG, and people. There was always a smile on her face and a joke to tell. Talented with the camera, her passion was in artistic drawings. I think that creative people hold a sense of sharing their God-given talents, and Carol truly did.

When I developed a medical issue, requiring me to stop work, Carol found out and made an extremely colorful sign with my name on it. Members wrote messages on the board sending well wishes. Nothing says love better than friends and family. Carol knew this and I guess one could say she sort of adopted me. I got a call from her at least twice a month and every month she sent a card. After her stroke, her messages were shortened, but the cards and calls kept coming. Itis hard to express in words how much that meant to me.

Carol was one of the good ones, and I and ASET members will miss seeing her with her camera, doing what she loved, interacting with people. She will be missed because she created a hole that will be hard to fill. To my dear friend, Carol, paint me a rainbow in the sky and I’ll know it is from you. God’s speed.

– Margaret Walcoff, M. Ed, R. EEG/EP T., FASET, ASET Past-President

Carol was the most patient individual. She was always so good about herding the ASET Board members together to get group pictures and that was not easy! She took her work very seriously but was such a good sport about it. She was always so patient while waiting for the individual who forgot board pictures were scheduled or the person who was looking the wrong way when she took the picture. There were often many retakes. She always wanted to try and find the best place for a photoshoot. She took her position as Historian very seriously and left all of us with such wonderful memories.

Not only did she preserve our Society’s history, but she also made each meeting special. I remember when we were in Kentucky, she bought all of the board members and staff a mini bottle of bourbon as a souvenir. Then, in New Orleans, she made every board member a papier-mâché rock to remind them of that meeting. These things will forever be sentimental reminders for me and things I will cherish.

I remember her pride in her profession and her EEG lab. It sounds like she was quite a celebrity in her hospital! She was so welcoming to any ASET meeting newcomers! One of the things that always amazed me was that she drove to all of the meetings no matter how far the trip was! After all, she could not fly and bring that many photo boards with her! The year that the ASET meeting was in Reno, NV, Carol brought a friend with her only to have her develop a serious medical issue that put her in the local ICU. Carol still attended most of the meeting! Her husband, Ron accompanied her many times as well as her son and even her grandkids one year. It was truly a pleasure to see her year after year and she will be so missed by so many.

– Cheryl Plummer, R. EEG T., CLTM, FASET, ASET Past-President

Carol was a fixture at ASET conferences. She was appointed as ASET’s official Historian and she served in this role for many years. She came to every meeting armed with a camera and tirelessly took photos and videos of conference attendees during all of the events and activities. She was truly the “Lady Behind the Camera”! Of all the photos in the ASET archives, there are very few of Carol since she was always the one taking the pictures!

Although most of us knew her best as the ASET photographer, the most important role that she was most proud of, was being an EEG technologist! She worked well into her senior years, reluctant to retire her title as “Grandma Carol” to her EEG patients. She was very much looking forward to the 2016 ASET Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, PA because it was an easy drive from her home in Ohio. However, she suffered a stroke that year. She was determined to attend the meeting despite the new challenges she was facing, but she had to leave her camera behind due to mobility issues.

“You just have to live, and life will give you pictures.” —Henri Cartier Bresson Carol, thanks for the memories!

– Faye Mc Nall, M.Ed, R. EEG T., FASET, former ASET Director of Education

Originally published in:

The Neurodiagnostic Journal, 62: 1–5, 2022
© 2022 ASET – The Neurodiagnostic Society
ISSN: 2164-6821 print / 2375-8627 online
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21646821.2022.2044726