Beloved LFP City Council Member & Deputy Mayor Lorri Bodi Passing

Lorri Bodi died on Thursday, April 17, 2025 at the University of Washington Hospital (Montlake) after an unexpected three week struggle with cancer. She was attended by family and close friends throughout.

Lorri is survived by her husband, Peter Eglick; their son, Ben Bodi, and their daughter, Anna Bodi; by her brothers John, Steven, and Peter, by her sister Kathi; by many in-laws; and by nieces and nephews who looked up to her as a role model.

Lorri was born in Newport, Rhode Island on November 5, 1951. Her father, Tibor Bodi M.D., was a refugee from Hungary who escaped both Hungarian nazis and Russian/Hungarian communists and had the good fortune to reach Rhode Island. Her mother was a nurse from Newport. Lorri, one of six children, grew up in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area where her parents established the family home and her father practiced medicine. After secondary school, Lorri attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she often worked more than one job to pay her way. In 1970 she first met Peter Eglick, also a student at UPenn. By 1971 they were a couple and remained so until the end of her life.

After simultaneously obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in literature and a Master's Degree in teaching, Lorri decided to go to law school. She attended George Washington University Law School (GW) in Washington, D.C. A GW Trustees Scholarship paid for a large part of her tuition. She also worked as a waitress and dining room manager to support herself. Then, as her legal education advanced, she worked, variously, as a law clerk at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, the National Council of Senior Citizens, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She also participated in the D.C. Law Students in Court program providing pro bono legal representation to indigent clients.

When Lorri graduated, she started work in Washington, D.C. as an attorney for EPA, which was relatively new. She participated in crafting and application of EPA's early clean water regulations. However, Lorri and Peter were inveterate hikers and backpackers. They liked what they had seen when they passed through Seattle on their way to Alaska. So, in November, 1978 they drove cross country with their dog, Jenny, to Seattle where Lorri had been hired as an attorney for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which included the National Marine Fisheries Service. Lorri soon became a key figure in advocacy for protection of salmon, an issue in which she would play a leadership role for several decades.

Lorri later took a break from government service to co-found the Northwest Office of American Rivers, a conservation organization, but she ultimately returned to the federal government as the Bonneville Power Administration's Vice President for Fish, Wildlife, and the Environment. From that position she continued her leadership in conservation and in pragmatic solutions for protection of salmon. Those who worked with her, whether from Tribes, State agencies, Federal agencies, utilities, or environmental organizations, knew that, while they would not always agree with Lorri, her trademarks were integrity and trustworthiness as a negotiating partner.

After retiring from BPA, Lorri expected to tend her garden, read, spend time at her Hood Canal cabin, and enjoy travel. However, she became involved in civic issues in Lake Forest Park, where she and Peter lived. She was ultimately persuaded to run for a City Council seat occupied by a two term incumbent seeking a third term. With the help of a dedicated group of friends and volunteers, Lorri prevailed against the odds, receiving almost 60% of the votes cast. She soon proved herself a worthy colleague on the Council. By the time she began her second term, her fellow Councilmembers elected her to be their Chair and Deputy Mayor.

Lorri only learned on March 27 of the aggressive cancer attacking her. In the ensuing three weeks until her death, she handled the situation with courage and grace. She made it a point to express thanks for their help to her husband and children, friends, and nursing caregivers. She did not complain and instead expressed appreciation for what she saw as her "lucky life."

She will be missed.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lorri, please visit our floral store.

Published on April 27, 2025, Seattle Times