Bill Podborny

William Robert “Bill” Podborny, a devoted husband, father, son, brother, and friend, passed away on March 20, 2026, just days shy of his 62nd birthday, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. A native of Chicago, Illinois and longtime resident of West Chester, Ohio, Bill lived a life defined by quiet strength, steady leadership, unquenched curiosity, and a humor that never seemed to run dry.

Born March 27, 1964, Bill grew up surrounded by family, with cousins and siblings always close by – a foundation for the deep loyalty and love he carried throughout his life. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1986 with a degree in Chemical Engineering and later earned his MBA from the University of Cincinnati in 1996. He went on to spend more than 40 years as a Principal Engineer at Lyondell/Basell, where he was widely respected not only for his expertise in plastic film manufacturing, but for his genuine passion for and unrelenting investment in the encouragement and mentoring of others. Bill had a way of teaching that put people at ease, helped them realize their potential, and, perhaps most importantly, made them feel like they belonged. Even through his constant health setbacks, he always looked forward to work, to contributing, to making a difference.

At home, Bill was the anchor. To his wife, Therese (née Pastrick), he was a best friend and a constant source of steadiness. Together they shared a love of music and concerts – from Andrea Bocelli to The Psychedelic Furs and Lady Gaga – that’s right, Lady Gaga, proof that Bill’s tastes were as wide-ranging as his wit and wisdom. To his sons, Joseph and Kevin, he was everything a father hopes to be: present, patient, proud, and endlessly supportive. Being their dad was the role he cherished most.

Bill’s presence was unmistakable, standing 6'6" and often with a double espresso in hand. But it was his humor that truly filled the room. He had an uncanny ability to make people laugh, often when they needed it most, a gift he inherited from his father and carried forward generously. He could fix just about anything, whether at work or at home, and approached problem-solving the same way he approached life: thoughtfully, practically, persistently.

He found joy in simple, enduring traditions – 18 holes on the golf course, fishing trips with family and friends to Canada and Michigan, cheering on the Bears, Cubs and Fighting Illini, euchre tournaments, and enjoying a well-earned Guinness or a shot of Fireball. And he never lost his appreciation for his mom’s prune kolaczki, one of his all-time favorites. Bill gave back to his community, serving as a Cub Scout leader and a basketball coach through his church, where he quietly shaped young lives the same way he did in his professional world – with encouragement, patience, and belief.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Therese, and their sons, Joseph and Kevin; his parents, Adam and Rose Podborny; his siblings Mary Lovell (Dan), David Podborny (Kathy Loos), and Diane Capic (Frank); and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members who will miss him dearly. He also leaves behind his loyal dog, Annie “Nanners,” who rarely left his side. He was preceded in death by his father- and mother-in-law, David and Mary Pastrick.

Bill Podborny lived with resilience, laughed and loved without reservation, and left behind a legacy measured not by titles or years, but in the people he cared for and the lives he made better. He will be deeply missed. He will remain often quoted, especially when someone needs a good laugh. And the long shadow he cast – literally and figuratively – will be felt on down through the generations.

Family and friends are invited to the visitation on Sunday March 29, 2026, 2:00-6:00 pm, at Hodapp Funeral Home, 6410 Cincinnati Dayton Rd., Liberty Township, OH 45044.

A Mass of Christian Burial in memory of Bill will be celebrated on Monday March 30, 2026, at 12 noon at The Community of the Good Shepherd, 8815 E Kemper Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45249.