Obituary: Laurence G. Bodkin, Jr. ’53

It’s with especial sadness that I record the death on November 22, 2020 of my Deerfield classmate and college roommate Laurence G. Bodkin, Jr.  He died surrounded by family members at his home in Larchmont, New York, from the complications of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.  In college, Larry (or Bods as some of us called him) distinguished himself by making appropriate use of his slight physique to be active on varsity crew and in varsity squash, in both of which he earned a Y.  In the former, he served as coxswain and was a candidate for that position on the U.S. 1956 Olympic team; in the latter (which he played until late in life, often with Alan Hockstader), he was an opponent who could dart about the court, sometimes it seemed under the legs of taller opponents almost without being seen.  After Harvard Law School, he devoted most of his career to tax law, principally with the firm of Jackson & Nash, in which he was long a partner.  Following his retirement, Bods involved himself in two efforts, both of which he found immensely satisfying, to help others.  The first involved assisting young people with special learning needs to navigate their way through New York City’s vast educational bureaucracy.  The second was service for the federal courts in New York as a mediator in disputes involving retirement and disability benefits.  He often spent his leisure hours at the piano, playing golf and tennis, and sailing the waters near his family house in Stony Brook, Connecticut.  A reserved man of comparatively few words, of warm personality that was sometimes hidden by a deceptively grumpy bearing, and of always easy laughter, Larry was a kind, caring, and thoughtful man.  Frank Michelman, a Deerfield and Harvard Law as well as Yale classmate, recalls him with “great fondness” starting in the earliest days at Deerfield for being among the first to welcome a “new boy” into a strange setting with “welcome, warmth, and cheer.”  Larry is survived by his wife of 57 years Muriel (Mimsie), their children Laurence III, Anne, Katherine Robinson, and Christopher, their children’s spouses and children, and 11 grandchildren.  Donations in his memory should go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (//lls.org/ct-hv).

Jim Banner, Jr.

1953

Frequently Asked Questions

Upon graduating from Deerfield, alumni enter a diverse network of former Deerfield students. Deerfield alumni have ventured into almost every area of employment, and many are at the top of their respective fields. The advantages of this vast network are numerous and significant, as every member of the Deerfield family receives the following:

Alumni are also eligible for alumni awards, such as the Ashley Award, Heritage Award, and the Mimi Morsman Award.

There are no membership fees or dues for members of the Deerfield family, but Deerfield does ask for assistance in a few areas. First of all, in order for Deerfield to have the most up-to-date records possible, we encourage members to keep us apprised of their current contact info. Alumni are also urged to direct all concerns and suggestions regarding Deerfield’s operations through the Executive Committee, the governing body of the Alumni Association. The committee acts as the voice of the alumni body, and works closely with the school administration. In order to keep tuition affordable and the quality of a Deerfield education at its highest, the Academy depends upon the continuing support of alumni and their families. This support can take the form of annual or capital gifts, or time spent volunteering on behalf of Deerfield.

There are Deerfield Clubs in many major American cities. Please visit here for more information on specific clubs and their sponsored events. 

Of course! Be sure to read the latest issue of From Albany Road in your email’s in-box for current news of what is happening on campus. As we also send out periodic invitations, it’s always best to make sure we have your current physical address. And if you do plan on visiting campus, why not tell us ahead of time?

Contact the Office of Advancement

alumni@deerfield.edu
413-774-1474

7 Boyden Lane, PO Box 306
Deerfield, MA 01342