Charles William Bodemer, American scientific historian. Decorated Purple Heart. With United States Marine Corps, 1944-1947. Member Academie Internationale d'Histoire de la Medecine, American Association History Medicine (secretary, treasurer 1964-1971), History Science Society, American Association Anatomists, Société Internationale d'Histoire de la Medecine, Sigma Xi.
Background
Charles William Bodemer was born on January 4, 1927 in Denison, Iowa, United States to Herman and Blanch (Nicola) Bodemer. Herman was a doctor, Blanch worked as a nurse. Charles grew up in Oakland, California. At Fremont High School, in Oakland, he met Sheila Hedley, daughter of George Hedley, an economics and sociology professor and minister at Mills College. While attending Pomona College, he was an extra in Saturday's Hero (1951), as part of the football team. He received a PhD in anatomy from Cornell University in 1956. He joined the University of Washington faculty in 1956. He moved to North Bend, Washington in 1982, and commuted to the University of Washington, until his death in 1985.
Education
Associate of Arts, San Francisco City College, 1949. Bachelor magma cum laude, Pomona College, 1951. Master of Arts, Claremont Graduate School, 1952.
Doctor of Philosophy, Cornell University, 1956.
Career
Charles W. Bodemer
Teaching fellow, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 1952-1953; member of faculty, University of Washington, Seattle, 1956-1985; Professor of Biomedical History, University of Washington, Seattle, 1967-1985; Director, Research Training Program, University of Washington, Seattle, 1960-1965; Associate Dean, University of Washington, Seattle, 1963-1967; Department Chairman, Biomedical History, University of Washington, Seattle, 1964-1985.
Author: Modern Embryology, 1968. Contributor articles to professional journals.
Politics
In the mid-1960s, several professors at the University of Washington were beginning to notice the lack of diversity at the University of Washington. On May 8, 1968, the Seattle Times paraphrased Dr. Bodemer’s position that the School of Medicine had only graduated one African-American student. He was quoted in the article “We’ve got to get away from our reliance on the word ‘qualified’ when looking for Negro students.” On May 16, 1968, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer paraphrased Dr. Bodemer, that the University of Washington had unintentionally become “a racist institution,” by “‘shuffling memos and papers back and forth’ while the UW grew from 6,000 students to 22,000 undergraduates now –with only about 150 Negroes enrolled” The article quoted Dr. Bodemer: “The University is intended for two groups—the students and the faculty. The faculty must be ‘educated’ about racism and must undertake programs on their own.’” Dr. Bodemer shared the brief details of a meeting of students and faculty of the School of Medicine. About 60 agreed to a proposal to recruit African American students, faculty and administrators.
Charles Odegaard probably summarized Dr. Bodemer’s proposal best, in his 1985 memorial service: “I first became acquainted with him in the mid-60's. In 1963 he had become Assistant Dean of Medicine, and in 1965 Associate Dean. At that time we both had concerns about the minority population, in the Central District of Seattle, and about the range of the University's service to the people there. It was this interest which initially brought us into more conversation. Concerned about the absence of doctors of minority origin, he was endeavoring to encourage contact between on the one hand, medical and other health professional students at the University, and, on the other hand, minority students enrolled in the Seattle Schools, by encouraging visits between university students and the students in the schools. He hoped to encourage opportunities to inspire minority students to take an interest in the possibility of health careers and to study in such a way as to obtain entrance into health professional schools. This interest was part of a larger concern he had for the minority problem in our society indicated by his activity in the Urban League and in the Model Cities Programs.”
In the late-1960s, Charles Bodemer was Aaron Dixon’s faculty advisor. Dixon was the Captain of the Seattle Black Panthers from 1968 until 1972. Dixon remembered Dr. Bodemer as “a short, stocky, gregarious man”, who was “kind, gentle, and encouraging.” He described my grandparents as “solid, good-hearted, good human beings.” But the thing that most stood out to Dixon, was Dr. Bodemer’s genuineness and kindness. “His genuineness stood out. The fact that we felt comfortable to ask to borrow his car to go to LA—and that he let us says a lot…after he found out about the car [being left in LA], he wasn’t mad. He was upset, I could tell. He didn’t show that he was angry.”
Views
“To die with dignity implies that a person has lived life with dignity up to the moment death occurs. A sense of worth and a sense of control of one’s destiny are fundamental to a dignified death.”
Quotations:
“To die with dignity implies that a person has lived life with dignity up to the moment death occurs. A sense of worth and a sense of control of one’s destiny are fundamental to a dignified death.”
"Twentieth Century Americans especially have tended to wear dark glasses. No one can be unaware that there is 'a time to be born and a time to die' and, yet, the subject of death has long been the most significant taboo within a youth-oriented culture dedicated to life and the pursuit of happiness."
"Research should never be stopped if it has potential value just because there is concern about hazards, if steps are being taken to minimize those hazards."
Membership
With United States Marine Corps, 1944-1947. Member Academie Internationale d'Histoire de la Medecine, American Association History Medicine (secretary, treasurer 1964-1971), History Science Society, American Association Anatomists, Société Internationale d'Histoire de la Medecine, Sigma Xi.
United States Marine Corps
,
United States
1944 - 1947
Academie Internationale d'Histoire de la Medecine
,
France
American Association of the History of Medicine
,
United States
1964 - 1971
Sigma Xi
,
United States
1957 - 1985
Personality
My grandfather was a funny man, with many serious interests. He was outgoing, but enjoyed solitude. He was well-liked by almost everyone he came into contact with.
“To die with dignity implies that a person has lived life with dignity up to the moment death occurs. A sense of worth and a sense of control of one’s destiny are fundamental to a dignified death.”--Charles Bodemer
Quotes from others about the person
In the late-1960s, Charles Bodemer was Aaron Dixon’s faculty advisor. Dixon was the Captain of the Seattle Black Panthers from 1968 until 1972. Dixon remembered Dr. Bodemer as “a short, stocky, gregarious man”, who was “kind, gentle, and encouraging.” He described my grandparents as “solid, good-hearted, good human beings.” But the thing that most stood out to Dixon, was Dr. Bodemer’s genuineness and kindness. “His genuineness stood out. The fact that we felt comfortable to ask to borrow his car to go to LA—and that he let us says a lot…after he found out about the car [being left in LA], he wasn’t mad. He was upset, I could tell. He didn’t show that he was angry.”
"Chuck Bodemer's influence extended far beyond medical students. He was repeatedly called upon to address residents and faculty groups, medical societies, medical and other health professional societies and interest groups, practicing physicians in continuing education courses, and audiences at other universities to which he was invited as a speaker. Despite the tremendous range of his interests, his work was based upon firm scholarship. He had a wideranging interest in the history of Western medicine, but for him the history of medicine did not exist in isolation from the general history of the times. He always tended to see it as a part of a larger context involving social, economic, philosophical, literary, and artistic matters.
He expressed himself in simple, straightforward English, which was at the same time graceful in style, often lightened with humorous touches, and also thoughtful and thought-inducing. I can suggest matters he wrote about by only a small sampling from his articles and addresses. He did not desert his original biological base."--Charles Odegaard
Interests
Balalaika, cooking, civil rights
Sport & Clubs
Oakland Raiders
Athletes
George Blanda
Music & Bands
Jazz, Blues, Acid Rock
Connections
Married Sheila Campbell Hedley, June 22, 1948. Children: Karen Hedley, Eric Charles, Brett William. Married Susanne Maria Lilja, July 14, 1977.