Aaron Bernard Bocknek

Aaron Bernard Thomas Bocknek, 55, of Alexandria, Virginia passed away on 11 September 2016 after a long battle with cancer. Mr. Bocknek, born in Washington, DC on October 16, 1960, a son of Dr. Mendel Bocknek and the late Fondalee Bocknek. After graduation from McLean High School, he attended Radford College and transferred to James Madison University where he was a member of the Marching Royal Dukes. While studying at JMU, he participated in a studies abroad program for a year in London. He graduated from JMU in 1985. Mr. Bocknek worked in the commercial aviation field throughout his life, serving principally as a flight attendant. He worked for many airlines, including Eastern, Piedmont, World, US Air, and finally the US Air side of American Airlines. He was well known and well liked by his peers and especially junior flight attendants for whom he served as a mentor. He was also passionate about his beloved Boston Terrier, Maccabee.

Aaron was equally passionate about his boat, his beloved 36 foot 1982 Trojan Tri-cabin named Enterprise, and his friends at Parkside Marina in Middle River, Maryland. Aaron thought of Kathy, Mike, Camille, Joe, Shannon, Fred, Gregg, Perry and others as part of his family, people who supported him through his first cancer treatment.

Aaron is survived by his father, Dr. Mendel Bocknek, brother Larry Bocknek and sister Cheryle Deacon (Doug) and 5 nieces and nephews as well as his partner through his illness, Brad Knopp. During his illness, Aaron was particularly grateful for several very close friends: Matthew Murchio, Jacob Lutterman, Paul Lazarr, and David Haser.

A gathering of friends and family will be held from 3-6 pm on Saturday, 24 September 2016 at Murphy’s Funeral Home, 1102 West Broad Street, Falls Church, Virginia. A private interment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations to one of the following organizations would be greatly appreciated:

Bill Posey Scholarship Endowment Fund 25692

James Madison University

Office of Annual Giving

MSC 3603, 220 University Blvd.

Harrisonburg, VA 22807

Life with Cancer

8411 Pennell St.

Fairfax, VA 22031. In the memo line of the check they can write “In loving memory of Aaron Bocknek.” (The other option is to donate online at www.lifewithcancer.org\donate and in the comments field the contributor could put the same note as on the memo line of the check.)

Arrangements under the direction of Murphy Falls Church Funeral Home, Falls Church, VA.