Six-figure bequest from Loyola grad Stephen Bodie to support Gina Cody School

Stephen Bodie, BSc 72, has made a generous planned gift to Concordia that will support the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science for decades to come.

The six-figure bequest is a reflection of a lifelong appreciation for the opportunity the Department of Physics graduate found at Loyola College, several years before it merged with Sir George Williams University to form Concordia.

The donation will provide long-term support for the Gina Cody School, advancing a range of priorities that may include student funding, academic initiatives and research activities.

“I had a very good education,” acknowledges Bodie, who lives in Calgary with his wife, Ruth. “And the reason for that is that Loyola let me take any course I wanted, as long as I had the prerequisites. It allowed me to think out of the box and design my own curriculum.”

Bodie, the son of Hungarian immigrants, arrived at Loyola with limited direction after secondary school on Montreal’s North Shore. What he discovered, however, was an unexpected pathway into computer science at a time when the field was still in its infancy.

“Although I had no plans to pursue physics for my career, I had a very good undergraduate experience,” he says. “I was able to take computer courses from the engineering department, and I ended up with valuable exposure to early programming languages.”

That openness led him to early hands-on experiences with the likes of Fortran, and eventually to a paid position supporting new computer science students. On graduating, Bodie was hired by a Loyola lecturer who ran a software company — a role that marked the beginning of a 28-year career in computer service.

“I had a job when I finished school,” he recalls. “I asked for a week off, and I was working one week after earning my degree.”

‘You don’t have to wait — you can do it now’

Bodie later completed an MBA in finance and transitioned into designing financial and accounting systems, combining technical and business expertise during a period of rapid technological change.

After nearly three decades in computer services, he pivoted again in 2000, completing the necessary certifications to become a financial planner and spending another 23 years in financial services.

Across these career shifts, Bodie maintained a quiet connection to his alma mater through alumni gatherings in Calgary, where he met fellow graduates and heard updates from Concordia leadership.

Those reflections, along with a recent conversation with university representatives, helped crystallize his decision to give back.

“It made me realize how much Loyola contributed to my success,” says Bodie. “So I thought I should include Concordia as part of my charitable foundation.”

His planned gift also reflects a broader philosophy about philanthropy and creating long-term impact.

Bodie hopes others will consider planned giving in some form to the extent that they can.

“It doesn’t have to be all or nothing,” he notes. “You can give part of your estate, or different assets. And you don’t have to wait — you can set it up now, and adjust later.”

For Bodie, the decision is rooted in gratitude for an institution that shaped his early career and continues to evolve.

“Loyola was open-minded. It gave me the freedom to learn what I needed and build a future from it,” he says. “This is my way of giving back to help ensure Concordia has a strong future.”

Join donors like Stephen Bodie. Consult with our planned giving experts to learn how you can create a legacy that supports the next generation of Concordians.