BODKIN , Ronald George Bodkin

It is with deep love and gratitude that we remember Ronald George Bodkin, beloved husband, father, stepfather, mentor, economist, and lifelong tennis player. Ron passed away peacefully on July 28, 2025, in Windsor, Ontario, surrounded by family. He was 89.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 29, 1936, Ron was the son of Marjory B. Bodkin and Ernest A. Bodkin. As a child, he spent months bedridden with a bone spur, and in that quiet time, he fell in love with reading and ideas. He devoured history and mathematics, and when a career counselor later suggested economics as the perfect blend of the two, he found his vocation.

Ron attended Westtown School for high school and then Swarthmore College, where he played varsity tennis all four years and earned his letter. He completed his PhD in Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, launching an academic life that combined rigorous scholarship with generous teaching.

His university appointments included the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University’s Cowles Foundation, and the University of Western Ontario, before he made his home at the University of Ottawa. At the University of Ottawa, he taught for decades, served as Chair of the Department of Economics and was later named Professor Emeritus of Economics. Ron’s door was always open; he was a cherished mentor who patiently explained ideas and blended practical wisdom with a big-picture perspective. Each holiday season he received well over a hundred Christmas cards from former students around the world—a living testament to the lives he touched.

An influential macroeconomist, Ron contributed to the development and use of macroeconometric models, including pioneering work as the Director of Canada’s CANDIDE model. He co-authored the reference volume A History of Macroeconometric Model-Building and published across seven consecutive decades—from the 1950s through the 2010s. His early research included a widely cited study of how windfall income affects household consumption; his final research paper returned to those human questions, drawing on his own meticulous lifetime journals to examine patterns in income, saving, and spending over the course of his life. He was also a pioneer of the economics of gender issues.

Beyond academia, Ron’s enthusiasms were many. He was a movie aficionado who loved sharing films and thoughtful recommendations. He delighted in dining out at fine restaurants with family and friends, savoring good conversation as much as good food. He adored classical music—especially Mozart, and he played violin throughout his life. He kept tennis as a joyful constant, continuing until the age of 85, as well as enjoying the game of bridge throughout his life. He was a lifetime church member who participated by singing in the choir and serving on committees for many years.

Ron is survived by his loving wife Brenda Joyce Hayward; his children Amy Elizabeth Bodkin-Dorush (Patrick Dorush) and Ronald Jeffrey Bodkin (Catherine Bodkin); his grandchildren Liam Alexander Bodkin and Fiona Elizabeth Bodkin; his stepchildren Kathrine Elizabeth Hayward (John Munro), James John Hayward (Seana Lovato), and April Joyce Hayward (Deanna Manson); his grandchildren Scarlet October Hayward-Mallet, Alexander Cole Hayward, Oliver Maxwell Hayward and David Joseph Friel and his great-granddaughter, Rosa Lee Desylva; and his ex-wife, Susann R. Bodkin. He was predeceased by his daughter Christie Lynn Bodkin; his brother Robert Ernest Bodkin and his wife Deborah Bodkin; and by his parents, Marjory B. Bodkin and Ernest A. Bodkin.

A celebration of Ron’s life will be held in Ottawa, Ontario at a later date; details will be announced by the family. Those wishing to honor his memory may do so by giving to Parkinson Canada in lieu of flowers.

Ron lived with curiosity, integrity, and warmth in the classroom, on the tennis court, in a darkened cinema, and around tables set for family and friends. His family, students, and colleagues will remember his gentle humor, his steady guidance, and the enduring example of a mind that never stopped learning.

Memories and notes of condolence may be shared at Windsor Chapel.