Obituary of John Bodo

In the early morning on Saturday, August 12, 2023, John Charles Bodo, 72, took the eternal rest his body needed. John was born in Perth Amboy, NJ on March 31, 1951, the oldest of three siblings, and as a child moved with his family to Sewaren where he met and kept life-long friends in the neighborhood. At 24 yrs old, he suffered a swimming accident in Ortley Beach, which left him paralyzed for the past 47 years. He and his family persevered so he could still live a full-filling life. John traveled cross-country for treatments, emceed fundraising events for the Spinal Cord Society and became a DJ, which included being a regular at The Barge in Perth Amboy and hosting JFK Hospital Brain Injury Institute's Annual Picnic. He enjoyed reminiscing about the good old days of playing basketball, being in a band and driving down the shore or to Rocky Hill with Uncle Johnny. He'd also have your ear on the weather , politics, tell wry jokes and a sports game or classic rock would be on in the background. In his later years, he liked taking nostalgic drives and going to the town's summer concerts with his mother. And what has always been his greatest joy was talking with and about his daughter and granddaughters. And that if they were okay, he was okay and happy. John is predeceased by his parents Charles and Theresa, a sister Jody, and his best friend Laz. Surviving are his sister Suzanne Mecka and husband Joseph, daughter Dana Bodo-Porcelli, granddaughters Paige Evers and husband James, Leah Lundell and husband Patrick, Nephew Fredrick Gall, Nieces Cheryl-Lynn Papadam and her husband Marco, Kaitlyn Vumbaca and her husband Sal, Great Nephew Anthony, Great Nieces Carolyn and Audrey "T" and Great Grandson Chase, with another Great Grandson on the way. Please join the family in remembering his wit and will this Sunday, August 20, 2023 from 4-6pm at Mitruska Funeral Home, 531 New Brunswick Avenue, Fords, NJ.