Photo of Dave Wodynski and wife Michelle courtesy of Tom Modica.
12:00pm | Family of the late Long Beach Budget Manager Dave Wodynski held a memorial celebration in remembrance of his life on Saturday, July 31 at 2:00pm at Ocean Blvd. and Pomona Avenue.
Wodynski died suddenly on Saturday while spending time with his wife Michelle and young child Sophia. He was just 40 years old.
After an impressive start to his career that include a Master’s Degree from Harvard, a stint in the Peace Corps and six years in international municipal development, Wodynski came to Long Beach in 2002 as a Management Assistant and was named Budget Management Officer in 2003. He became the manager of the Budget and Performance Management Bureau in 2007 and was a key sculptor of the city’s annual budget proposal – no small task in recent years of financial difficulty. City Manager Pat West told the lbpost.com on Monday that Wodynski’s death was a shock, and a reminder that life is precious.
“He was always the smartest person in any room he was in, and has always been a driving force behind getting our financial scheme in order,” said West. “That was his skill set, and it will be missed. Just a wonderful, wonderful human being and a wonderful family man.”
Parking for the memorial will be available for a fee in the Ocean and La Verne lot and the Granada Beach lot. A private reception will follow for invited family and friends. Direct any questions to Tom Modica, a colleague and close friend of Wodynski’s, at 562.570.5091.
Family are asking that donations to Sophia’s college fund be made in lieu of flowers. Checks can be made out to Michigan Education Savings Program with the account number 935417 in the memo field. Checks can be sent either to Tom Modica at Long Beach City Hall at 333 West Ocean Blvd (13th Floor), Long Beach CA 90802 or to Sophia’s aunt Anna Wodynski at 9247 Foliage Lane, Munster IN 46321. Retain your check stub for tax deduction purposes for states that allow deductions to a 529 plan.