Jan Viktor Bodorff

1939 - 2021

Jan Viktor Bodorff
1939-2021
Jan Viktor Bodorff, beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend passed away October 15 after a sudden illness. Viktor was born in Stockholm, Sweden on April 23, 1939, son of Dag Tufvesson and Brite Marie Bodorff. He was preceded in death by his parents and half brother Christer Tufvesson and numerous aunts and uncles in Sweden. Surviving Viktor are his daughters Natasha Bodorff (Steffen Schreier) of Boulder, Colorado and
Marie Soraya Bodorff of Houston; grandchildren Rowan and
Linnea Bodorff Schreier; brother Hans Christian Olavson (Else) of Houston and Palo Alto, California; 2 nephews and four grand nephews; aunt Vicki Bodorff Lund and several cousins in Sweden; and numerous dear friends in Houston and overseas.
Viktor grew up with his grandmother in Stockholm as his mother and her new husband were serving in the free Norwegian armed forces in London during the war. After the war the family relocated to Drammen, Norway where he attended elementary and middle school. He started his maritime interests early with a voyage on the sail ship Sørlandet at age 15 and again the year after when he participated in the tall ships regatta between Torquay, England and Lisboa, Portugal. After middle school he hired on as a deckhand on a Norwegian liner serving North America, much to the delight of his friends back home as he brought back rock and roll records not yet available in Norway. His early interest in mechanical engineering started with him building his first motorcycle when he was 16. After a trial run of the engine in the bedroom, the rest of the assembly was quickly relocated to the garage! After several more sea voyages Viktor decided he had enough of the seafaring and enrolled at Stockholm Institute of Technology to study mechanical engineering. After graduation he worked a couple of years in Norway before his wanderlust took over and he emigrated to USA by hiring on a ship going to New York and he eventually made it to Houston in 1966 where he settled in the Montrose area.
Viktor started at Gay Engineering where he made lifelong friends. Later he worked for Fluor Engineering in Houston and also as a consultant in South America and the Caribbean before he diverged into apartment ownership and management. Finally he ventured into home building where he was renowned as a quality townhouse builder in the River Oaks area.
Viktor married Mireya Ramos in 1971 and they had two daughters, Natasha and Marie Soraya whom he loved dearly. He was a member of Houston's European Club from the 1960s through the 1970s and also involved in the South American community in Houston. Viktor was engaged in Houston's arts and cultural scene with a fondness for museums, especially the Maritime Museum, and the Polo Club. Viktor participated in the very active Norwegian and Swedish communities in Houston, as well as the Greek community. He stayed active to the very end visiting with his many friends.
Viktor is to be cremated and his ashes buried in the family grave in Sweden. Arrangements are handled by Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home and friends are invited to share their memories. A memorial service will be held on January 25, 2022 at 1pm at the Norwegian Seamen's Church, 4309 Young Street, Pasadena, TX 77504. In lieu of flowers,the family suggests a memorial donation be made to the Norwegian Seamen's Church in the name of Jan Viktor Bodorff.