Biography

Bodnyk, Russell, age 85, a resident of Boca Raton for 21 years passed away Monday November 1, 2010 in Boca Raton, Florida. He was born April 30, 1925 in Northampton, PA to the late Anthony and Katherine Maslanyk Bodnyk. He was a veteran and served in WW II as a B 29 pilot in the Western Pacific with the 20th Air Force where he earned three campaign metals. He graduated from Lehigh University where he received a degree in industrial engineering and masters of engineering. He was also a registered licensed professional engineer. On September 17, 1949 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, he married Mary Savitske and they had four children. He worked 31 years for General Electric where he retired as the Manager - Manufacturing Engineering for GE Super Abrasives Division in Worthington, OH and Shannon, Ireland. Survivors include his wife Mary Bodnyk of Boca Raton, Florida; two sisters, Katherine Clements of Bethesda, Maryland, and Ann Fanok of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; three sons, Russell Jr. of Keller, Texas, Anthony of Mansfield, Ohio and Jonathan of Franklin, Indiana; one daughter, Lizabeth Klager of Boca Raton, Florida; eight grandchildren, Russell Bodnyk III, Dane Bodnyk, Katrina Bodnyk (Langford), Michael Bodnyk, Elise Bodnyk, Shane Klager, Skylar Klager and Kyle Bodnyk; also one great-grandchild, Sydney Bodnyk. Pay respects at St. Jude Catholic Church at 21689 Toledo Road, Boca Raton on Friday, November 5, 2010 between 1:00 -1:30 PM with a mass immediately following at 1:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Parkinson Disease Foundation.