Rev. Ernest "Ernie" Bodenweber

Rev. Ernest Bodenweber passed away peacefully after a short illness on October 17. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1925. He graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1943, from Denison University in 1947, and from Anderson Newton Theological School in 1953. He also did graduate study at Boston University School of Theology and Harvard Divinity School. After serving three pastorates in Massachusetts, he was called to the First Congregational United Church of Christ in West Haven, Connecticut, from which he retired in 1988. During his active ministry he served on the Boards of the Alumni of Andover Newton Theological School, the Seaman’s Friend Society of Boston, the Mission Committee of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ, and the United Ministry of Higher Education in Connecticut. He also served as moderator of the New Haven Association of the United Church of Christ. In retirement, he did volunteer activity with the Marshall Lane Manor Convalescent Hospital of Derby, the Foundation for the Community Encouragement, the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia, and Yale New Haven Hospital. He was an active participant in both the First Presbyterian Church of New Haven and the Shalom United Church of Christ, also of New Haven. He was a devotee of music and sang in several choruses including the New Haven Community Chorus, the University Glee Club, and the New Haven Oratorio Choir. He reveled in the musical richness at Yale and attended countless concerts there.

He is pre-deceased by his first wife Dorothy Tekel Bodenweber and survived by his wife, Muriel Beck Bodenweber; two daughters, Jennifer Bodenweber and Joanna Bodenweber; son-in-law, Geoffry Fried; five stepchildren, Cynthia Love, Donald Beck, David Beck, Daniel Beck and Katherine Beck; step daughters-in-law Stephanie Beck and Debbie Sherman; step son-in-law Mark Love; eight step-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will take place on Sunday November 5, 2023, at 3 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church, New Haven. Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to West Haven Funeral Home at the Green.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Andover Newton Theological School at Yale University or Connecticut Hospice in Branford, CT. 

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