Notes for: Herman Louis Bodine
From Staten Island and its People, pages 461-462.
Herman Louis Bodine
Of the citizens of Staten Island who have been prominent in movements of a civic, benevolent and commercial nature, probably none attained a more significant success than the late Herman L. Bodine. During his career he was regarded as a man in whom the essential fundamentals of good well and integray, together with business acumen, were always keenly apparent to his many friends and associates.
He was born on February 12, 1881, in an humble home in his native country, Russia. Mr. Bodine was an infant when he was brought to America by his parents, Jacob Bodine, who died in 1910, and his mother Rachel Bodine. His mother was an exceedinly able woman and one of splendid character, whose devotion to her family was unceasing. His father, after the arrival of the family to America, settled on Staten Island and in time he established a general merchandizing business on Morningstar Road, Elm Park.
Herman L. Bodine first attended a Hebrew school in New York...
Mr. Bodine also served as president of the Hebrew Benevolent Society of Staten Island, the oldest organization of its kind in Richmond Borough...
From Ronny Bodine:
Herman Bodine joined his father in his general merchandising business on Morningstar Road which was then named J. Bodine and Son and continued as such until the elder Bodine's retirement when the business was renamed Bodines Department Store. He sold his interest in 1919 and later became president of the Eternite Chemical Products Corporation which was concerned with the manufacture of waterproof building materials. Herman Bodine died at his home and was buried in Baron Hirsch Cemetery. Besides his wife, he was survived by one son, Ephraim, and two sisters, Mrs. Annie Mendelson of Port Richmond and Mrs. Esther Edelman of Manhattan. Harriet Bodine was the daughter of Ephraim and Theresa Goldman. She is a graduate of Hunter College and Normal School. For his full biography, see Leng, Charles W., "Staten Island and its people : a history, 1609-1929." New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co., 1930-1933, p. 461-462. In 1930, Harriet Bodine, now widowed, was living with Ephraim in Port Richmond, Richmond County, New York.
Although his biography in Leng's history of Staten Island states he was born in Russia, the 1900 census records the birth places of his parents and himself as Poland, a detail certainly provided by his father.
Obituary, The New York Times, 12 Aug 1929.
BODINE-Herman L., on Sunday, Aug. 11, at 4 P.M., Funeral Monday, Aug. 12, 1 P.M., from residence, 246 Heberton Av., Port Richmond S.I. No flowers.
Obituary, The New York Times, 11 Oct 1946.
BODINE--Harriet, widow of Herman, beloved mother of Ephraim, devoted sister of Ray Oppenheim, Russell, Herman and Albert Goldman. Funeral private. Please omit flowers.