LINCOLNWOOD, Ill. - William S. Bodinus, 99, died May 16 of natural causes in suburban Lincolnwood. He had worked for 45 years with Carrier Corp., where he started as an engineer.

He helped bring air conditioning to the mainstream in commercial buildings and also influenced refrigeration in the candy, cold storage, and packing industries.

Bodinus was a friend and employee of Willis Carrier. Born in Chicago, he began his career as a mechanical draftsman for a Chicago architectural firm. He moved on to Brunswick-Kroeschell, a manufacturer of refrigeration compressors, and in 1930 he went to work for Carrier Corp. after the two companies merged.

He was eventually named western zone manager. In 2003, Bodinus was awarded the Willis Carrier Lifetime Achievement Award. He retired from the company in 1974.

During his career, he also wrote technical articles and taught classes on refrigeration at the Siebel Institute.

Bodinus is survived by two children, Winifred Seibert and Roland; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 76 years, Evelyn Bodinus.

Publication date: 06/09/2008