John Travis Bodenheimer II

John Travis Bodenheimer, II, 43, of Burke, VA, died August 25, 2009 in Falls Church, VA. John was born in Aiken, SC, and attended Aiken Elementary and South Aiken High Schools. He is survived by his mother, Kay Felder Bodenheimer, of Aiken; sisters, Beth Dworjanyn (Pete) and Melissa McInnis (Jonathan); nephews, Jack and Nick Dworjanyn, Aidan McInnis, and a niece, Kate McInnis, all of Columbia. He is also survived by his beloved fiancee', Leslie Katz, of Burke, VA, formerly of Columbia, SC. John was preceded in death by his father, John Bodenheimer, of Aiken. John received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Arts from the University of South Carolina, and had a varied career within that field. He worked with George Fulton Productions, and for Total-Audio Visual Services, as City Manager and Lead Technician--both in Columbia. Further, he enjoyed working with the University of South Carolina as a production manager until 2004. He was Supervisor of Audio and Production services at University of Miami School of Law in Miami, then moved to Fairfax, VA, in 2006 where he was manager of classroom support at George Mason University. In his early career years, John served as a set carpenter for several motion-picture releases, among them "The Last of the Mohicans". He enjoyed helping to build walkways on the Congaree and Edisto Rivers. He designed and constructed sets as a stagehand, and was an experienced rigger and flyman. John's family remember him as someone who was always looking for the next good thing that was going to happen in life. He was an excellent cook, an animal lover, loved to joke and be with people. He treasured his family and lifelong friends. He adored his niece and nephews and always looked forward to being with them. LIke his father and grandfathers before him, he had a fascination with tools and loved to work with them. John will be missed by many. The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, VA, and Capital Hospice in Arlington, VA. Each one went far beyond the ordinary to care for John and for his family. A memorial service will be held at Aiken First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, August 30, at 3 P.M., with a reception afterward in the Fellowship Hall. The Rev.’s Dr. David Cozad and Jane Keisler officiating Burial will take place at Manning Cemetery in Manning, SC, on Monday, August 31 at 11 o'clock, with The Rev. Henry Summerall officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the American Diabetes Association, 2711 Middleburg Dr., Suite 205, Columbia, SC 29204, American Kidney Fund, 6110 Execitove Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 20852 or to First Presbyterian Church, 224 Barnwell Ave., NW, Aiken, SC 29801. SHELLHOUSE – RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Travis Bodenheimer II, please visit our flower store.