Dr. Naser Bodiya: U-D prof challenged students

bilde.jpgChallenging students to achieve academic excellence while encouraging them to discover their inner strengths was a chapter well versed in the classroom of Dr. Naser Bodiya.

A retired business administration professor who taught at the University of Detroit for more than 30 years, Dr. Bodiya died Tuesday at Harbor Chase, an assisted living facility in Sterling Heights, after an extended battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 90.
“As an educator, he constantly inspired students with his dedication and his hard work ethic,” recalled his youngest son, Paul Bodiya. “The lessons he imparted weren’t necessarily just purely academic, but sometimes had a moral fiber interwoven for good measure.”
Born one of seven children in Baghdad, Iraq, Dr. Bodiya was the first member of his family to come to the U.S., in 1946. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1949 and a master’s degree a year later from U-D.
He was an adjunct professor at U-D for eight years before receiving a doctorate from Michigan State University in 1961, specializing in economics, marketing and management.
Dr. Bodiya returned to his native Baghdad for a year as a visiting professor at the Jesuit University of Al-Hikma. He resumed his teaching career at U-D in 1962, and taught graduate and undergraduate courses in marketing, business policy and strategic planning.
In addition to his teaching duties, Dr. Bodiya was an assistant dean in the College of Business Administration and was chairman of the business faculty. He retired in 1992.
Dr. Bodiya was honored by the Chaldean Federation of America in 1990 for his continued support of educational opportunities for Chaldean youths.
He was married for 51 years to Aldona Bodiya, who died in 2002.
Besides his son Paul, survivors include sons Dale and Hank; a daughter, Aida Butler; two sisters; a brother; 13 grandchildren, and a great-grandson.
A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. today at the U-D Mercy College of Business Administration, St. Ignatius Chapel, 4001 W. McNichols in Detroit. Visitation will precede the mass at 9:30 a.m.
Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield.

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