Francis Fisher Bodkin, Jr.,

Class of 1962

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of Francis’s passing. Born June 8, 1944, he departed this life on July 30, 2026. 

We extend our condolences to his family, many classmates from Sayville High School, fellow firefighters, and colleagues who shared in his journey.

A beautiful obituary was prepared by family and published by our friends at Raynor & D’Angelo Funeral Homes West Sayville. It is copied below for your convenience but can also be viewed by clicking HERE:

Francis Fisher Bodkin Jr., of West Sayville, New York, formerly of Brooklyn Heights, New York and Point O’Woods Fire Island, died on July 30, 2026, at the age of 82 after a long illness.

Fran was born on June 8, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York, He was the son of Elizabeth Burtenshaw Bodkin and Dr. Francis Fisher Bodkin. The Bodkin family summered in Sayville for many years and moved their family permanently from Brooklyn to Sayville in 1956. Fran and his four brothers were raised in a home on Handsome Avenue.

Fran graduated from Sayville High School in 1962 and Georgetown University in 1967. At Georgetown, Fran was well known and recognized on campus for his leadership in organizing major events, a skill he utilized throughout his life.

He was a member and director of the Polo Club, a member of the Cheerleading squad who particularly enjoyed energizing the crowds during basketball games, and ran homecoming one year with future President of the United States, Bill Clinton who was class of 1968. He loved the Georgetown Chimes and hosted the a cappella group’s reunions at his home on Fire Island for many years.

Fran and his beloved wife of 56 years, Irene Fox Bodkin, who survives him, met as children through their mothers, Betty Bodkin and Betty Dagher Fox, also of Brooklyn and later Sayville, who were lifelong friends.

Professionally, Fran built a distinguished career on Wall Street as a trader and held a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. He could frequently be found after work telling stories and smoking a cigar at the bar of Harry’s at Hanover Square, the legendary Wall Street watering hole.

Following a devastating fire in Point O’Woods in 1983 which tragically killed three people and destroyed four homes, Fran and small group of Point O’Woods homeowners joined the Ocean Bay Park Fire Department which provides mutual aid for Point O’Woods. At that time, Point O’Woods did not have an official volunteer fire company. Fran was a member of the OBPFD for 42 years, a former Assistant Fire Chief, the secretary of the department for 33 years, a member of the Brookhaven Town Fire Advisory Board, a member of Brookhaven Town Chiefs Council, and a member of the Fire Chiefs Council of Suffolk County.

In addition to his fire department related volunteer work, Fran was a longtime member and past master of the Kane Lodge No. 454 F.& A.M. and served on the board of managers for the St. Andrew’s Society of the State of New York.

Fran was a parishioner at St Ann’s Church in Sayville and a former parishioner at Grace Church Brooklyn Heights where for many years he carved dozens of turkeys on Thanksgiving morning to feed those in need.

During his time as a homeowner at Point O’Woods, Fran served in many volunteer positions, most notably as a member of the Bay Point Navigation Corp. during the time that the POW VII ferry was designed and built, and as a co-founder of the annual Jake Blackwell Beefsteak dinner which is held every September. The Beefsteak dinner was started in the early 1980s as a social event but following the 1983 fire has been a fundraiser benefiting the Point O’Woods Volunteer Fire Company.

In addition to his wife, Fran is survived by his daughters, Madeleine Bodkin Rice and Elizabeth Bodkin; his granddaughters, Elizabeth Rice and Conlin Rice; his grandson, Benjamin Bagley; his brothers, William Bodkin and Christopher Bodkin; and many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Kevin Bodkin and Paul Bodkin, and by his son-in-law Marc Rice.

A wake will be held in Fran’s memory on August 10, 2026, from 4pm-8pm at Raynor & D’Andrea Funeral Home 245 Montauk Highway, West Sayville, New York with a Firematics service at 630pm. His funeral & burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to the Suffolk County Fire Chiefs Scholarship Fund, Inc. or the Ocean Bay Park Fire Department.