I met Dr. Bode for the first time in April 1999 when I was applying for the doctoral program in pathology and laboratory medicine at East Carolina University. I eventually chose Art as my mentor, and under his wise and unique direction, I finished my Ph.D. in May 2006. However, I came back to his lab as a post-doctoral fellow for another 2+ years. Our working relationship spanned a decade or so. I had the privilege of co-writing a grant with Art in 2008, and I do remember working around the clock to meet the deadline. He was very meticulous when it came to grant write-up, and every word mattered. 

His mentorship, teaching, and unique writing style still guide me today as I stand and teach undergraduate students myself. Simply put in his own words this is called "paying it forward"! Indeed, he had such a unique style of putting simple words together that made more sense as I started using them. He was such an eloquent speaker, who chose just the right words. 

Even his battle with ALS and the way he coped with the disease were unique. Art never questioned God's will. He simply accepted his struggles and fate. He even took it upon himself to teach the world the meaning of having such a robust faith. He always ended our e-mail exchanges with "stay healthy and take care of your family". Indeed, these words, as the many words before, will resonate in my mind for the rest of my life. 

I never had the comfort of meeting my mentor again after February 2011. We went in separate ways as we both left ECU in 2009. We always wanted to enjoy a cold beer together. However, I had the privilege to meet his sons at the funeral, as well as see Irene again. I know for a fact that his love for Irene and his sons was deeply rooted. He always took pride in his family and the time spent with his sons.   

I will always miss Art's guidance and companionship. Simply put, the world has lost a great clinical scientist, mentor, and father. His legacy will live for many decades as he will always be remembered for his freeze-dried platelet efforts and the quest to save lives. 

May you rest in eternal, heavenly peace, my friend.

Sam E. Elchoufani

I never knew a time that I met or talked to Art when he was negative or pessimistic.  His enthusiasm for his work, life, family and friends was infectious.  It was impossible to be around him and not feel good about yourself and the world.

Even in the face of tremendous challenges that came with the onset of his disease, he never lost this.  In the last exchange that I had with him via e-mail a few months ago, we talked about science and we also spoke about life.  His last words to me were, "God has been good to me." I know that he meant this with his whole heart and soul and that now he rests with the Almighty.

I will miss Art's light in a world that is often dark.  His memory and legacy will keep until the day we shall meet again.

Dr. Bode,
Rest easy knowing that the research you started with platelet storage will one day change and save so many lives.
It was a privilege to work with you.
Sincerely,
Jannette Humbles Harris 
Administrator (Retired)
Brody School of Medicine,  ECU

 I met young Art in Philadelphia, possibly 1982,  as invited speaker of another good friend of mine Ed Snyder, talking intelligently about platelet storage lesion . Had an interesting conversation and  asked him to come to my meeting  in London and as usual he never said to me NO. Our friendship since begin and apart from many invites by Hagop to Scotblood,where I attended,  even the most recent one where he appeared  twice with lovely Irene, who he loved from the bottom of his heart, I had opportunity to visit him in North Carolina with a PhD  student of mine, Pranee, for 3 weeks to work on platelet storage lesion  using his advanced technologies and  even to write a paper too on micro-vesicle in blood components , often referred too , even now. keeping his memory alike. He also contributed a chapter in my book on Platelet therapy co- edited by ED Snyder. Thanks Art as you always lifted me up with your knowledge and believing sharing is caring. Your presence in my heart, mind and soul will remain eternal, even if your spry dry  methodology could not yet be used for whole body system , which i would be the first in line to try. 
Surely I am not the only one who enjoyed you in life and have plenty of history to say about  the goodness you brought to every one .
 Rest in peace 
 Cheers my best adorable friend Jerard Seghatchian

For the past four years I've had the privilege of working with Art.  His unique blend of scientific aptitude and irreverent humor will certainly be missed.

Art was a wonderful mentor into the world of platelets. His work will help all of God's creatures.  Rest In Peace

Art kindly agreed for me to spend two weeks in his laboratory at East Carolina University in July 1994. That heralded over 20 years of close collaboration on platelet research resulting in attendances and/or joint presentations at international conferences, particularly Scotblood conferences to which he was invited several times to present his ground breaking work on lyophilised platelets. He loved his Scotland visits, specially the last couple of visits with his loving fiancee Irene. Over the past 22 years we became very close friends, and although I will sorely miss him, the memories we shared will be a source of everlasting comfort, specially of his witty and cheerful self. My sincere condolences to Irene, and his children and grandchildren.

Thanks, Arthur, for pulling me into you life and allowing me to be a part of your special day. It's an honor to celebrate your life and your Savior today.

Art was a friend, colleague and mentor. I met him when he was first working on freeze dried platelets many years ago. His work was his vocation but, he enjoyed life and reveled in it. We became even closer when he joined Cellphire. After his diagnosis his joy in life never wavered. He gave all of us who knew him a wonderful example of how to LIVE no matter what life throws at you. rest in peace my friend Allelluia. I miss you dearly.

Art,  

You are a one of a kind and will be sorely missed.  Our lives are all better for having known you.

There are very few bosses you can point to and say "They made me a better person than I was before" but Art was one of those bosses. He always saw more in me than I believed I had. I know he will want his professional legacy to continue and I believe his long-suffering research into shelf stable platelets will be the foundation work to finally making it happen. His impact on this world was greater than many could ever hope for and that is what we truly leave behind.

Arthur was part of a group of us who participated in the same Episcopal Young Churchmen (EYC) group in the late sixties and seventies.  We were all very close at the time.  He was funny and incredibly bright....I'd say we all loved each other. I reconnected with him in the early nineties, but lost contact after that.  We will miss him...I send my best wishes to his family

I met Art in college. over forty years ago, when we lived across the hall from each other in our dormitory.  He was a very funny and mischievous guy - and a very smart one - but most importantly, he was a good and thoroughly decent person, and a wonderful friend.  

For about 35 years after college, we were only very sporadically in touch as I remained in Durham and Chapel Hill, and he established a life and career in Greenville - until he called me at my office one evening, out of the blue, about four or five years ago.  I asked him if he was still in Greenville, and he told me he had moved a couple of years earlier and was working at the Research Triangle Park...turned out his office was about two blocks from mine!  We got together a couple of days later for lunch, and we got together often over the next few of years.  We reestablished our friendship and enjoyed talking about the old times and our current lives, families and friends, and any number of topics.  In recent years I had the good privilege to meet and get to know Irene and several of Art's relatives, and I have many great memories of time spent with Art in the '70s, and again in more recent times.

In recent months I was buoyed by Art's sense of humor and his ability to make the people around him smile and feel upbeat.  We had a lot of good laughs and some great conversations since his most recent return to North Carolina, and I'm sad we'll have no more.  Still, I feel very fortunate that I knew Art, and I will be forever grateful that he was my friend.

My sincere condolences to Art's family and friends.  Peace be with you, Art.

None that rest his faith on Him will be disappointed. Rom. 10:11

Be Still

Be still like the grass on a melancholy summer day
Be still like desert shrub.

Be calm and you will hear your loved one speak, in the stillness, in the calm, their love resounds.

If you are still this promise I make, you will hear the voice of your loved one helping you along your way.

By Lamaretta Simmons

My prayers to the family. Art and I were classmates at McCallie for years, I am very saddened, he will be missed by the entire McCallie '71 Brotherhood.

Claude Iler
Greenviile, SC

To Art's family/Irene: I'm so sorry for your loss. I enjoyed working with Art and especially enjoyed his quirking puns. He was always able to get a smile out of me.  I know he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.  I hope memories of happy times spent together will comfort you during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss,may the words at 1Peter5:7 comfort you in knowing that God really does care about you in this time of grief.

OBITUARY

Arthur Palfrey Bode

12 October, 1953 – 11 November, 2016

Apex Funeral Home

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