(08/24/2003) Eric Robert Bodenschatz, 47, died of cancer on Ausgust 16th, 2003. He was born on March 24th, 1956, in Queens, New York. He graduated from Wantagh High School in Long Island, New York. After hitchhiking about the country he lived in New Orleans for a time before settling in Austin. His parents Robert Bodenschatz and Claire Mulhullond Bodenschatz preceded Eric in death. Eric joined the Navy and served during the Cold War on a submarine, the USS Stonewall Jackson (SSBN 634). He loved the boat and served her well. After his tour he returned to Austin and worked for the Texas Energy Office as the computer liaison for the Public Utility Commission. He then moved on to work at the Governors office where he was a Systems Analyst in charge of installing and networking their first personal computer system. From there he worked at the office of the Secretary of State. Eric spent his last several years working at Tivoli Systems, a division of IBM. Eric joined Tivoli as a Technical Support Engineer, and was widely recognized for his keen technical insight and for his unusual dedication to working with customers. Eric moved into Technical Support Management, and subsequently became manager of the level 3 team. Eric frequently took calls with customers, engineers, and other managers even during chemotherapy, such was his love for work. He is survived by his wife, Amy Evers Bodenschatz; his son Sage Walker; his daughters, Erica, Evelyn, Annie Bodenschatz; his step-children, Oona and Francis McLean; his sister, Karen (Bodenschatz) Dietz and her husband, Scott Dietz of Savannah, Georgia; his brother, Kurt Bodenschatz of Lakeworth, Florida. He is also survived by his in-laws, Ann Evers and Morton Cohan of Naples, Florida; his brothers-in-law, Robert and Carmen Evers of Roswell, Georgia; Mark Evers of Atlanta, Georgia, Shawn and Chris Cohan of Bethlehem, PA, Mike and Geri Cohan of Hackettstown, NJ; his nieces and nephews, Kyle and Zachary Dietz, Robert, Alexandra, Emma, and Abigail Evers. Eric would be disappointed if no mention was made of the fact that you should not be sitting around reading his obituary, but that you should be doing something important like riding a motorcycle, playing with your children, or people watching at the grocery store. Eric was honest to a fault, generous often, and he was always thinking. He wasted little time. Eric once wrote: ``So all I can tell you is this: Life is a precious thing. Be brave and change when it's time to change, the times I suffered the most was when I was a coward, or lazy, or both. Pay attention to whatever are your sidewalks and dirty interstates. Treasure your lovers, your children, and your family; you will not have them long.'' A memorial service will be held for Eric 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 14th, 2003, at Hancock Recreation Center in Austin, TX. In lieu of flowers donations can be made for the children's college fund. Donations can be made to Amy Evers Bodenschatz in care of Bank of America.
Page background photo courtesy of Bud F. Turner (ex-MT2/SS Plank owner). Photo is of USS Stonewall Jackson (SSBN 634) on her way to the rendering yard for decommissioning and dissassembly.