Eric Bodden, a resident of Dorchester, MA, was a crewman aboard the SS Marine Electric when she went down in 15 - 18 ft. seas, 40 mph winds, about 30 miles east of Chincoteague, VA. Thirty-one of the 34 crew members died when they had to abandon ship into frigid, 39 degree, water. Most, including Eric, dying from hypothermia.
The SS Marine Electric was a 605 ft. coal freighter and was en-route from Norfolk to Somerset, MA. The tragedy tightened inspection standards, resulted in mandatory survival suits for winter North Atlantic runs, and helped create the now famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer program.
According to his brother, Harold, a Boston firefighter, "the thought of death at sea "never crossed Eric's mind.". A native of Honduras, he had served on merchant vessels some years ago and then quit the sea to go to work for First National Stores. He went back to see about 6 or 7 years ago and had been aboard the Marine Electric about 2 years."
Eric left his wife, Ella Levy Bodden, whom he had married in NY in 1968; two sons, Eric, Jr, 13 and another son, 7, a daughter, 8; also 6 brothers and 6 sisters. He was the son of Hazard Bodden (1916-2001) and Erlinda Ennis (d. 1957)
Boston Herald Feb 15, 1983, p.: 4
VA Death Certificate
NY Marriage License Index
The SS Marine Electric was a 605 ft. coal freighter and was en-route from Norfolk to Somerset, MA. The tragedy tightened inspection standards, resulted in mandatory survival suits for winter North Atlantic runs, and helped create the now famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer program.
According to his brother, Harold, a Boston firefighter, "the thought of death at sea "never crossed Eric's mind.". A native of Honduras, he had served on merchant vessels some years ago and then quit the sea to go to work for First National Stores. He went back to see about 6 or 7 years ago and had been aboard the Marine Electric about 2 years."
Eric left his wife, Ella Levy Bodden, whom he had married in NY in 1968; two sons, Eric, Jr, 13 and another son, 7, a daughter, 8; also 6 brothers and 6 sisters. He was the son of Hazard Bodden (1916-2001) and Erlinda Ennis (d. 1957)
Boston Herald Feb 15, 1983, p.: 4
VA Death Certificate
NY Marriage License Index
Eric Bodden, a resident of Dorchester, MA, was a crewman aboard the SS Marine Electric when she went down in 15 - 18 ft. seas, 40 mph winds, about 30 miles east of Chincoteague, VA. Thirty-one of the 34 crew members died when they had to abandon ship into frigid, 39 degree, water. Most, including Eric, dying from hypothermia.
The SS Marine Electric was a 605 ft. coal freighter and was en-route from Norfolk to Somerset, MA. The tragedy tightened inspection standards, resulted in mandatory survival suits for winter North Atlantic runs, and helped create the now famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer program.
According to his brother, Harold, a Boston firefighter, "the thought of death at sea "never crossed Eric's mind.". A native of Honduras, he had served on merchant vessels some years ago and then quit the sea to go to work for First National Stores. He went back to see about 6 or 7 years ago and had been aboard the Marine Electric about 2 years."
Eric left his wife, Ella Levy Bodden, whom he had married in NY in 1968; two sons, Eric, Jr, 13 and another son, 7, a daughter, 8; also 6 brothers and 6 sisters. He was the son of Hazard Bodden (1916-2001) and Erlinda Ennis (d. 1957)
Boston Herald Feb 15, 1983, p.: 4
VA Death Certificate
NY Marriage License Index
The SS Marine Electric was a 605 ft. coal freighter and was en-route from Norfolk to Somerset, MA. The tragedy tightened inspection standards, resulted in mandatory survival suits for winter North Atlantic runs, and helped create the now famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer program.
According to his brother, Harold, a Boston firefighter, "the thought of death at sea "never crossed Eric's mind.". A native of Honduras, he had served on merchant vessels some years ago and then quit the sea to go to work for First National Stores. He went back to see about 6 or 7 years ago and had been aboard the Marine Electric about 2 years."
Eric left his wife, Ella Levy Bodden, whom he had married in NY in 1968; two sons, Eric, Jr, 13 and another son, 7, a daughter, 8; also 6 brothers and 6 sisters. He was the son of Hazard Bodden (1916-2001) and Erlinda Ennis (d. 1957)
Boston Herald Feb 15, 1983, p.: 4
VA Death Certificate
NY Marriage License Index
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