Alan Bonnin was a hardworking father, husband, and U.S. Army veteran who developed mesothelioma years after his service. Despite his cancer being aggressive, Alan bravely fought the cancer for three years.
Alan Bonnin was first exposed to asbestos, the only known cause of mesothelioma, as a child. His father worked on a hydroelectric dam and unknowingly brought home asbestos fibers on his clothes.
Later, when his father became a mechanic, Alan often helped out after school. He breathed in asbestos dust from car brake pads and linings on a regular basis.
Alan enlisted in the U.S. Army after high school with tours in Germany and Korea during the Gulf War and Operation Desert Storm.
Following his time in the service, Alan returned to what he knew best — repairing car brakes and later maintaining equipment at a factory — which meant more exposure to asbestos.
Alan spent nearly 30 years working for an HVAC company to support his wife, Connie, and their four sons, three of whom have autism. The hours Alan put in were long, sometimes 16 hours a day for 7 days a week, but rewarding.
Decades into his career, Alan began suffering from a lingering cough and fluid buildup around the lining of his lungs (pleural effusions). Doctors originally misdiagnosed him with less serious conditions — until his lung collapsed.
Alan had to undergo emergency surgery, where the doctors removed a concerning tissue sample and later confirmed he had pleural mesothelioma.
“Mesothelioma changed our lives drastically,” Connie recalled. “Alan was let go from his work. He couldn’t work like that anymore.”
While Alan was only in his mid-50s at the time of his diagnosis, the cancer had already spread and was considered terminal.
The mesothelioma diagnosis upended the lives of Alan and his family. He had no idea that dust from decades-old brake pads and factory equipment could lead to an illness so devastating.
Alan’s health wasn’t the only pressing issue: Medical bills and other expenses were mounting. Connie recalls that at one point, she didn’t know where the family’s next meal would come from.
After Alan’s diagnosis, friends urged him and Connie to consider working with a mesothelioma lawyer. They were unsure at first, but as the bills piled up, they made the call.
“If you’re 50 and all of a sudden you’re retired, you don’t have a 401(k) that’s built up enough to retire on. You’re not going to have the means to live comfortably with this diagnosis.”
Alan Bonnin
U.S. Army veteran with mesothelioma
Alan’s lawyers quickly got to work on his mesothelioma lawsuit. He and Connie had never filed a legal claim before, so their team took time to explain the process.
The attorneys handled all the work for them, meaning Alan could focus on what mattered most: his health and his family.
Ultimately, Alan’s lawyers recovered a significant mesothelioma settlement, allowing him to afford medical care and also not have to worry about his family.
“One of the things we’ve always worried about, because we have autistic children, is how are they going to survive on their own? Alan explained. “The results of the lawsuit have made an incredible difference.”
Alan and Connie also got a sense of justice knowing that the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products, which knew the health risks but hid the truth, had to pay for the devastating diagnosis.
Despite Alan’s aggressive mesothelioma diagnosis, he refused to give up. Though mesothelioma patients typically only live for 12-21 months, Alan survived for 3 years — a testament to his strength and will to live.
Alan passed away in early 2025, but his legacy and proud service to his country will never be forgotten.
Today, the Mesothelioma Veterans Center is prepared to help other U.S. veterans with mesothelioma, as well as their families, get the resources and justice they deserve.
Work with our team to:
Get a Free Veterans Packet or call (877) 450-8973 now to see how we may be able to help you or a loved one.
