Obituary of James F Bodnar

After a heroic battle with cancer, on Friday, August 1, James "Jim" Bodnar passed at home surrounded by loved ones.

Jim was born on September 22, 1950 in Newark, New Jersey to Helen Haitmanek Bodnar and Stephen Bodnar, and older brother, Peter.

His idyllic youth was spent in Union, outdoors with his brother and friends, always up to crazy suburban antics much to the chagrin of the neighborhood. Jim's most favorite memories were those of his childhood summers spent "down Barnegat Bay" at his Aunt and Uncle's bungalow with his gaggle of cousins, his parents, and brother. Fishing with his father and brother on their homemade boat "Pete", catching crabs and cooking them up for dinner- sunburned, shoeless, and salty.

As soon as he got the keys to a car, he took off driving cross country, spending months falling in love with the wilds of Montana and the Grand Tetons of Wyoming. Always the explorer, Jim talked about his time on the road with wide eyes and had stories for any who would listen.

Landing back in New Jersey, he met the love of his life, his wife Jane DiNicola Bodnar, on a blind date. After a few weeks of deciding she was the one (while Jane knew right away), the two started their life together and were married on June 9, 1973. They honeymooned in Hawaii and spent their early married years exploring in an RV with friends, taking trips to upstate New York and the Poconos, and creating a foundation for a rock solid marriage. When Jane's father passed away unexpectedly, Jim and Jane helped to raise her sister, Mary Lou. They bought their beloved home in Hampton, NJ where they happily shared so many memories through the years. They celebrated their 50 year anniversary just two years ago, and renewed their wedding vows before family and friends.

The two welcomed their daughter Erin Bodnar McGinn on June 1, 1980. Jim instilled in Erin a love for the outdoors and exploring far and wide. Catching frogs, picking berries, long nature walks, and of course fishing, the two always had the same interests, so much so that Erin graduated with a degree in Marine Biology from the University of Rhode Island, a major she decided on at 8 years old when a trip down the shore left her asking her dad to help save a whale that had washed up on the beach. Erin attributes her love for animals and the environment to her dad, who also always helped her with her photography homework in high school, leading her to her current career.

Ever the creative, Jim dabbled in everything from gardening (becoming a groundskeeper for Duke Estate), to drawing and painting, and finally finding his niche in woodwork. Jim carved pieces for family and friends, sold them at art shows, and found peace in the medium. His favorite were "tree spirits" where he would let a piece of foraged driftwood speak to him, illuminating faces and natural elements by relief carving. Jim and Jane even had a craft business for a while where they sold their art out of their home. Jim also was a great writer and storyteller. His daughter and her childhood friends fondly remember his bedtime stories as being endless creative tales of "Jerry and Stuffy". Jim loved to express his dry humour through writing, he would often find ways to insert sarcasm and witty comments in his work signage and his emails to his team at the Environmental Education Center at Lord Stirling Park in Basking Ridge where he served as Maintenance Foreman for years. Always the outdoorsman, Jim found joy in his work by being on the park trails in all seasons and all weather.

As much as Jim loved exploring, he was a homebody at the end of the day and took pride in his house and yard. You could always find him pruning the garden, mowing the lawn, watering the hundreds of flowering plants he lovingly tended to, working on house projects, building furniture, or just relaxing in the sun with his bottle of Bud or a Captain Morgan. On the weekends he'd often be fishing with dear friends, or spending time alone on the Musconetcong, thinking his deep thoughts. Jim and Jane adore their close circle of friends and neighbors and are so grateful for all of their support.

Jim fought through prostate cancer only two years later get a diagnosis of MDS, and then AML Leukemia. Jim and Jane want to send their love and thanks to everyone at the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center at Hunterdon Medical Center who became more than doctors and nurses and aides, but friends and brought a sense of levity to Jim's treatment, which increased from monthly, to weekly, and then daily.

No public services will be held. In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , one of Jim's favorite charities, would be much appreciated. 

Jim is survived by his wife Jane, daughter Erin (Nicodemus) McGinn, brother Peter (Jean) Bodnar, sister in laws Mary Lou (Giovanni) Sommers, and Linda Ellmo, niece and nephews: Nicole, Louie, and Giovanni and so many close friends who he considered family that helped him during the hard times. He is predeceased by his parents, Stephen and Helen Bodnar, in laws Evelyn and Louis DiNicola, sister in law Evelyn Dressler, brother in law Dominic and nephew Damian Ellmo.