Oliver Martin Boddie was born August 10, 1931 in Harlem New York. He was the Second child of the beloved union of Arthur Boddie Sr. and Fannie Bettis Boddie. His mother and father predeceased him along with this older brother Arthur (Jimmy) Boddie Jr. and younger sister Eleanore Boddie.
Oliver was raised, educated and groomed in Harlem. At age 17, he enlisted in the US Army during World War 2 which he was honorably discharged. As a young man Oliver had a keen ear for music, learning how to play the Piano, Organ and Bass. He often played with live bands with many famous artists in the Village. He learned how to read and write music without any formal training or schooling. He and his father shared this amazing spirit for music.
They both shared an entrepreneur’s spirit with the idea of good food can solve all problems. Oliver learned and honed his cooking skills from his father Arthur. He took this talent to the Institute of Culinary Education in New York, New York. Once he graduated, he was a certified chef with endless possibilities. Using his confidence in his craft, he held head chef positions in places like Peg Leg Bates Resorts in the Catskills, La Famille and Wells in Harlem, and the Honeysuckle restaurant in mid-town Manhattan. Oliver has cooked for some of the most famous faces in the 80’s. Mike Tyson, Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie to name a few. Oliver also catered events like the debut album for Johnny Gill and the R&B group EU. In efforts to give back to society, he started a food bank to support residents in Harlem and the South Bronx in the 80s which was stuck with poverty during this period. I think we all remember those days of working on Ogden Avenue. Oliver being the teacher of the Culinary Arts took his last lead chef position at Julliard School for performing Arts where he took his son Clive and daughter Trina with him for the ride.
Oliver was quite the traveler touching down in almost every state in the US. He loved the road and the glory of new beginnings in which driving has always provided for him. In his later years to keep his mind sharp he completed a life long goal of gaining his bachelor’s degree at the age of 79 years old providing motivation too all as its never too late to accomplish goals and finish school.
Oliver is survived by his wife Lucy and brother Charles, Daughters Christine, Trina, Tracey, Christal, Vicky, Gayle (deceased), Karen, daughter in laws Chanette and Magda, his Sons Lance and Clive (deceased), son in laws Ben, Kirk(deceased) and Tom. All his grandchildren, nieces and nephews have loved him unconditionally. Oliver will always be a father figure to all his family members as he always stated if we are family then “We Are Family”. Heaven has truly found its Renaissance Man.
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