In Memoriam: Tribute to Professor Y. Michal Bodemann (1944 – 2025)
The Centre for European and Eurasian Studies mourns the passing of Professor Emeritus Y. Michal Bodemann, a distinguished German Canadian sociologist, who passed away on January 3, 2025, at the age of 80.
Born in Germany in 1944, Dr. Bodemann earned his PhD from Brandeis University before joining the University of Toronto in 1974. Over the course of his career, he became a leading scholar in German-Jewish relations and post-Holocaust memory studies, profoundly shaping contemporary discussions on these topics.
Dr. Bodemann was an integral part of intellectual life at the University of Toronto. He was the director of the European Office of the University of Toronto in Berlin and was affiliated with the Joint Initiative in German and European Studies (JIGES) at the Centre for European and Eurasian Studies.
Dr. Bodemann will be remembered for his brilliant scholarship, critical insights, and deep commitment to understanding historical memory. He is survived by his four daughters and younger brother. His legacy continues to inspire colleagues, students, and scholars around the world.
