DR. JOSEPH A. BODNER

1931 - 2015

BODNER, DR. JOSEPH A. (CAPT. USN RET) Dr. Joseph A. Bodner, Jr., 83, entered into eternal rest at his home in Branford, CT on Sunday, March 15, 2015 surrounded by his loving family. Joseph was born July 24, 1931, in New Haven, CT, the son of Katherine Meglin and Joseph Andrew Bodner, Sr. Joseph lived on Harbor Street, enjoying growing up at Branford Point and the Meglin Farm on Brushy Plain Road. He met the love of his life Jean Christine Fritsch at his Yale Fencing demonstration held at the Branford Community House. They were married August 28, 1954. Joseph graduated Branford High School 1949, Yale University 1953, and University of Pennsylvania Dental School in 1957. Joseph joined the United States Naval Reserve in 1954, serving in the Dental Corps until his retirement as Captain in 1977. Deployments were overseas as well as INCONUS. Jean taught her husband an appreciation of the sea, leading to his participation in the first instructor training course of the National Association of Underwater Instructors . . . his instructor number being #009. This dive team pioneered many of the safety advances used in scuba diving today. He invented biomedical data collection devices for the US Naval Undersea Medical Institute. A true Renaissance man, he loved archery, fencing, classical music, Arthurian history as well as underwater photography. His love of teaching scuba diving was matched only by his love of instructing his dental students at the University of Connecticut, School of Dental Medicine. He only recently stopped treating dental patients at his private practice in Branford 4 weeks ago. Dr. Bodner is survived by his sons, Paul G. Bodner, DDS (and his wife Debra) and Joseph (Jay) A. Bodner III (and his wife Haley) and grandchildren: Christopher, Meglin, Jonathan, Alexa and Jake Bodner. He is predeceased by his wife Jean (Fritsch) Bodner. He is also survived by his brothers, Gereon and Gregory and predeceased by his brother, Clement. Funeral arrangements are by the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford. The wake is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17th, 2015 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday March 18th 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary Church, 731 Main Street, Branford, with interment to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to the American Legion Post #83, 243 North Main St., Branford, CT 06405 or the USO (United Services Organization) at www.USO.org. For his online memorial, please visit www.wsclancy.com.