Dr. Les Bodnar, age 98, was an orthopedic surgeon, husband, father, war veteran, author and role model to many.
Born in the far South side of Chicago to Hungarian immigrants, he graduated from Fenger High (1936), University of Illinois (1939), and University of Illinois Medical School (1941).
In 1939, he met fellow Chicagoan Bernardine Brennan, and they married in 1943, with his love for her continuing throughout their 56 years together.
He completed an internship and residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans in 1947 and established a solo medical practice in South Bend that has developed into the group now known as South Bend Orthopaedic Associates.
To know Les Bodnar was to know a man of high integrity and compassion who cared for the underserved, lived his strong moral principles, worshiped devoutly, gave generously, loved a challenge, and enjoyed lifelong learning. He golfed, played bridge, sailed, snow skied, read voraciously, and learned to sailboard in his 70’s. He was a devoted, loving, and well- loved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
He served as the Notre Dame football team’s orthopaedic surgeon from 1949 - 1985.
He was President of the Indiana Orthopaedic Association and received its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. He was a Founder and President of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine where he is now a member of its Hall of Fame and was its Sports Medicine Physician of the Year in 1978. He also served on the boards of the Cerebral Palsy Society, American Red Cross and the Indiana Governor’s Council on Fitness and Health. In 1988 Dr. Bodnar was named a Sagamore of the Wabash, he received the EM Morris Award from Indiana University South Bend, and was honored to be inducted into the Order of Malta. He was also on the board of the Sister Maura Brannick Health Center where he volunteered his time for many years.
Dr Bodnar authored two books: a 2010 memoir entitled Carnie, and in 2014, a second book, Sports Medicine, Notre Dame.
He is survived by his nine children: Tom (Linda) Bodnar (South Bend, IN); Julianne (John Greenspan) Bodnar (Santa Fe, NM); Kathy Bodnar (San Francisco, CA); Susan (Jim) Hildebrandt (Rocky River, OH); James (Anne) Bodnar (New York, NY); Bill (Karla) Bodnar (Boise, ID); Mike (Carol) Bodnar (Bloomington, IN); Mary Pat (Randy) Bay (Davenport, IA); and Beth (Pierre Englebert) Bodnar (Pomona, CA); 24 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death and now joins his wife (Bunny), parents (Les and Julia), sister (Millie), and granddaughter (Elizabeth). He will be greatly missed.
Visitation will be held at the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William Street on Sunday, December 21 from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 22 at 1:00 at St. Joseph Chapel at Holy Cross College. A reception for friends and family will follow at the Morris Inn from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Memorial contributions to the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County for the Sr. Maura Brannick Health Center Fund are suggested in lieu of flowers. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com.
Born in the far South side of Chicago to Hungarian immigrants, he graduated from Fenger High (1936), University of Illinois (1939), and University of Illinois Medical School (1941).
In 1939, he met fellow Chicagoan Bernardine Brennan, and they married in 1943, with his love for her continuing throughout their 56 years together.
He completed an internship and residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans in 1947 and established a solo medical practice in South Bend that has developed into the group now known as South Bend Orthopaedic Associates.
To know Les Bodnar was to know a man of high integrity and compassion who cared for the underserved, lived his strong moral principles, worshiped devoutly, gave generously, loved a challenge, and enjoyed lifelong learning. He golfed, played bridge, sailed, snow skied, read voraciously, and learned to sailboard in his 70’s. He was a devoted, loving, and well- loved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
He served as the Notre Dame football team’s orthopaedic surgeon from 1949 - 1985.
He was President of the Indiana Orthopaedic Association and received its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. He was a Founder and President of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine where he is now a member of its Hall of Fame and was its Sports Medicine Physician of the Year in 1978. He also served on the boards of the Cerebral Palsy Society, American Red Cross and the Indiana Governor’s Council on Fitness and Health. In 1988 Dr. Bodnar was named a Sagamore of the Wabash, he received the EM Morris Award from Indiana University South Bend, and was honored to be inducted into the Order of Malta. He was also on the board of the Sister Maura Brannick Health Center where he volunteered his time for many years.
Dr Bodnar authored two books: a 2010 memoir entitled Carnie, and in 2014, a second book, Sports Medicine, Notre Dame.
He is survived by his nine children: Tom (Linda) Bodnar (South Bend, IN); Julianne (John Greenspan) Bodnar (Santa Fe, NM); Kathy Bodnar (San Francisco, CA); Susan (Jim) Hildebrandt (Rocky River, OH); James (Anne) Bodnar (New York, NY); Bill (Karla) Bodnar (Boise, ID); Mike (Carol) Bodnar (Bloomington, IN); Mary Pat (Randy) Bay (Davenport, IA); and Beth (Pierre Englebert) Bodnar (Pomona, CA); 24 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death and now joins his wife (Bunny), parents (Les and Julia), sister (Millie), and granddaughter (Elizabeth). He will be greatly missed.
Visitation will be held at the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William Street on Sunday, December 21 from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 22 at 1:00 at St. Joseph Chapel at Holy Cross College. A reception for friends and family will follow at the Morris Inn from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Memorial contributions to the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County for the Sr. Maura Brannick Health Center Fund are suggested in lieu of flowers. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com.
Dr. Les Bodnar, age 98, was an orthopedic surgeon, husband, father, war veteran, author and role model to many.
Born in the far South side of Chicago to Hungarian immigrants, he graduated from Fenger High (1936), University of Illinois (1939), and University of Illinois Medical School (1941).
In 1939, he met fellow Chicagoan Bernardine Brennan, and they married in 1943, with his love for her continuing throughout their 56 years together.
He completed an internship and residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans in 1947 and established a solo medical practice in South Bend that has developed into the group now known as South Bend Orthopaedic Associates.
To know Les Bodnar was to know a man of high integrity and compassion who cared for the underserved, lived his strong moral principles, worshiped devoutly, gave generously, loved a challenge, and enjoyed lifelong learning. He golfed, played bridge, sailed, snow skied, read voraciously, and learned to sailboard in his 70’s. He was a devoted, loving, and well- loved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
He served as the Notre Dame football team’s orthopaedic surgeon from 1949 - 1985.
He was President of the Indiana Orthopaedic Association and received its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. He was a Founder and President of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine where he is now a member of its Hall of Fame and was its Sports Medicine Physician of the Year in 1978. He also served on the boards of the Cerebral Palsy Society, American Red Cross and the Indiana Governor’s Council on Fitness and Health. In 1988 Dr. Bodnar was named a Sagamore of the Wabash, he received the EM Morris Award from Indiana University South Bend, and was honored to be inducted into the Order of Malta. He was also on the board of the Sister Maura Brannick Health Center where he volunteered his time for many years.
Dr Bodnar authored two books: a 2010 memoir entitled Carnie, and in 2014, a second book, Sports Medicine, Notre Dame.
He is survived by his nine children: Tom (Linda) Bodnar (South Bend, IN); Julianne (John Greenspan) Bodnar (Santa Fe, NM); Kathy Bodnar (San Francisco, CA); Susan (Jim) Hildebrandt (Rocky River, OH); James (Anne) Bodnar (New York, NY); Bill (Karla) Bodnar (Boise, ID); Mike (Carol) Bodnar (Bloomington, IN); Mary Pat (Randy) Bay (Davenport, IA); and Beth (Pierre Englebert) Bodnar (Pomona, CA); 24 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death and now joins his wife (Bunny), parents (Les and Julia), sister (Millie), and granddaughter (Elizabeth). He will be greatly missed.
Visitation will be held at the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William Street on Sunday, December 21 from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 22 at 1:00 at St. Joseph Chapel at Holy Cross College. A reception for friends and family will follow at the Morris Inn from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Memorial contributions to the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County for the Sr. Maura Brannick Health Center Fund are suggested in lieu of flowers. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com.
Born in the far South side of Chicago to Hungarian immigrants, he graduated from Fenger High (1936), University of Illinois (1939), and University of Illinois Medical School (1941).
In 1939, he met fellow Chicagoan Bernardine Brennan, and they married in 1943, with his love for her continuing throughout their 56 years together.
He completed an internship and residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans in 1947 and established a solo medical practice in South Bend that has developed into the group now known as South Bend Orthopaedic Associates.
To know Les Bodnar was to know a man of high integrity and compassion who cared for the underserved, lived his strong moral principles, worshiped devoutly, gave generously, loved a challenge, and enjoyed lifelong learning. He golfed, played bridge, sailed, snow skied, read voraciously, and learned to sailboard in his 70’s. He was a devoted, loving, and well- loved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
He served as the Notre Dame football team’s orthopaedic surgeon from 1949 - 1985.
He was President of the Indiana Orthopaedic Association and received its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. He was a Founder and President of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine where he is now a member of its Hall of Fame and was its Sports Medicine Physician of the Year in 1978. He also served on the boards of the Cerebral Palsy Society, American Red Cross and the Indiana Governor’s Council on Fitness and Health. In 1988 Dr. Bodnar was named a Sagamore of the Wabash, he received the EM Morris Award from Indiana University South Bend, and was honored to be inducted into the Order of Malta. He was also on the board of the Sister Maura Brannick Health Center where he volunteered his time for many years.
Dr Bodnar authored two books: a 2010 memoir entitled Carnie, and in 2014, a second book, Sports Medicine, Notre Dame.
He is survived by his nine children: Tom (Linda) Bodnar (South Bend, IN); Julianne (John Greenspan) Bodnar (Santa Fe, NM); Kathy Bodnar (San Francisco, CA); Susan (Jim) Hildebrandt (Rocky River, OH); James (Anne) Bodnar (New York, NY); Bill (Karla) Bodnar (Boise, ID); Mike (Carol) Bodnar (Bloomington, IN); Mary Pat (Randy) Bay (Davenport, IA); and Beth (Pierre Englebert) Bodnar (Pomona, CA); 24 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death and now joins his wife (Bunny), parents (Les and Julia), sister (Millie), and granddaughter (Elizabeth). He will be greatly missed.
Visitation will be held at the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William Street on Sunday, December 21 from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 22 at 1:00 at St. Joseph Chapel at Holy Cross College. A reception for friends and family will follow at the Morris Inn from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Memorial contributions to the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County for the Sr. Maura Brannick Health Center Fund are suggested in lieu of flowers. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
