Dorothy Bodner Harris

Dorothy Bodner Harris, of Brooklyn, NY and Philadelphia, PA, passed away on February 24, 2024. She is survived by her children, Tony (Patty), Jeffrey (Sandy), and Elizabeth (Warren) Hyams; her nephew, Fredric (Barbara) Bodner; her niece, Nancy (Gary) Bodner Kessler; her grandchildren, Stephanie (Victor), Alexa (Animaesh), Jaclyn (Emlyn), Hannah, Chandler (Lauren), Sara, Jack, and Trevor; and her great-granddaughter, Arya. She was preceded in death by her husband, William; her brother, Marvin; her parents, William and Rose Bodner; and her lifelong best friend, Edith Magaziner.

Dorothy was a proud Brooklynite. She grew up in Borough Park and graduated from Brooklyn College in 1947. She met her husband Bill at Tamiment in the Poconos, and they were married in 1950. She was a proud patron of the arts; she was a gifted pianist throughout life, and she loved classical music, Gilbert and Sullivan, and Impressionist art. She was also an avid athlete; after spending a summer at Cornell while she was in college, she became a devoted tennis player, and her brother Marvin taught her how to swim as a child. Dorothy passed along this love to her family — she taught her own children and grandchildren how to swim, and she loved playing tennis and swimming with her family at their summer cabin at Tamiment and throughout her life.

Dorothy was devoted to her family, and she reveled in each and every accomplishment of her children and grandchildren. She was also devoted to those around her and spent many years volunteering for Associated Services for the Blind. She left an impression on everyone she met, and we will remember her as deeply individualistic and passionate.

Family and friends are invited to services on Monday, February 26 at 10:30 am, which will be followed by a burial at Har Nebo Cemetery. Following the burial, the family will return to the residence of Elizabeth and Warren Hyams for Shiva, which will continue on Monday (February 26) and Tuesday (February 27) evenings. The family will receive guests at 6:30 pm with services at 7:00 pm both nights.

If you wish to make a contribution in Dorothy’s memory, please consider a donation to VisionLink (formerly d/b/a Associated Services for the Blind) https://www.visionlinkphl.org/donate/ or to a charity of your choice.