Obituary for Helene 'Holly' Dunn Bodman
Helene (Holly) Dunn Bodman, 86, died peacefully at her home in Cambridge, MA on April 29, 2023. Daughter of the late Kempton and Susan Gill Dunn, Holly was born in New York, NY on November 22, 1936, grew up in New Canaan, CT, and graduated from Abbot Academy. Holly matriculated to New England Conservatory, where she studied piano, and received degrees in music theory and musicology from the San Francisco Conservatory and The American University. Holly’s Masters thesis on Chinese Musical Iconography was published by the Asian-Pacific Cultural Center.
Holly founded Music Information Specialists and wrote performance program notes for the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian and others. Industrious, curious, and ready with a smile, Holly volunteered her time to civic and cultural organizations throughout her life. She served on many boards of directors, including the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Performing Arts Society.
Holly and her first husband, Richard S. Bodman of Naples, FL, raised their two sons in San Francisco, CA, Wilmington, DE, and Washington, DC. Holly was pre-deceased by her second husband, Alexander Grinnell, of New York. Holly enjoyed choral singing and concert travel, including trips to Salzburg, Canterbury, Havana, and Bejiing. A strong athlete, Holly loved sailing, rowing, and skiing with her children and grandchildren. Holly is survived by her cherished sons and daughter-in-law Taylor S. Bodman, James M. Bodman, and Willa C. Bodman, and her beloved grandchildren Mathew Bodman, Daisy Bodman, Heather Hobbs, and Luke Hobbs. A service of Thanksgiving will be held at Christ Church, Cambridge.
Holly founded Music Information Specialists and wrote performance program notes for the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian and others. Industrious, curious, and ready with a smile, Holly volunteered her time to civic and cultural organizations throughout her life. She served on many boards of directors, including the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Performing Arts Society.
Holly and her first husband, Richard S. Bodman of Naples, FL, raised their two sons in San Francisco, CA, Wilmington, DE, and Washington, DC. Holly was pre-deceased by her second husband, Alexander Grinnell, of New York. Holly enjoyed choral singing and concert travel, including trips to Salzburg, Canterbury, Havana, and Bejiing. A strong athlete, Holly loved sailing, rowing, and skiing with her children and grandchildren. Holly is survived by her cherished sons and daughter-in-law Taylor S. Bodman, James M. Bodman, and Willa C. Bodman, and her beloved grandchildren Mathew Bodman, Daisy Bodman, Heather Hobbs, and Luke Hobbs. A service of Thanksgiving will be held at Christ Church, Cambridge.