Obituary for Rev. Dr. Robert L. Wood
Rev. Robert Leslie Wood passed away peacefully on Sunday morning May 29, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. He was 92 years of age.
Born in 1930 in Manchester, CT, son of Clarence and Eva Morey Wood, he was the youngest of four children. Theirs was a musically gifted family and Bob began taking piano lessons from his mother at five years of age. Several years later he began study of the organ.
At 13 years of age he became the church organist in the Ellington Congregational Church in Ellington, CT (salary $3.00/week). The following year he became organist/choir director (with a salary increase to $5.00/week). For thirteen more years he was organist and choir director serving several churches of the Congregational and Baptist traditions and for a time was organist on two radio stations. During those years he served as organist at a number of commemorative celebrations of World War II.
He graduated from Manchester High School and received his Bachelor of Music from Boston University with a major in Music Education and minor in Organ. He taught music education in grades 1-12 in four towns in New Hampshire and also taught piano and organ privately. He received his Bachelor of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Andover Newton Theological School, Newton, MA and continued extensive study in pastoral counseling.
Moving from the organ console to the pulpit, he served as minister in churches in Jamaica Plain, MA; Swampscott, MA; Westbrook, ME; New Canaan, CT; and concluded a 29 year pastorate in Medfield, MA. He also served as hospital chaplain in Maine and Massachusetts. In retirement he served as Interim Minister in the Canton, MA and Millis, MA United Churches of Christ and Chaplain in Residence at the Roberts-Mitchell-Caruso Funeral Home. During his ministry he officiated at hundreds of weddings, baptisms and funerals. Among the great joys of his life were the ministerial exchanges in which he and his wife Joan participated with the churches of Rayleigh, Huddersfield and Banbury, England.
His ministry included serving as a member and chair of numerous denominational and seminary committees. He was Moderator of the Metropolitan Boston Association of the United Church of Christ and served two terms as President of the Alumni Association of Andover Newton Theological School (ANTS). He was a member of two Presidential Search Committees for ANTS and also served on a national committee for critical evaluation and academic accreditation of theological schools.
He was a founding member of a church retirement home in Connecticut, a counseling center at the United Church of Christ in Medfield, and was an Executive Board member of the Seafarers Friend Society for many years.
He was active on many committees in Medfield- Fair Housing, Medfield Home Committee, Medfield Personnel Committee, Medfield Public Schools Superintendent’s Advisory Committee, Medfield Public Schools Drug and Alcohol Policy Committee, and the Search Committees for Principal of Wheelock School and the Medfield Chief of Police.
His ministry was marked by inclusiveness and acceptance of others. He had a great spirit of fellowship and involvement, not only with clergy of all denominations, but also with people of all ages and walks of life. Perhaps it is said that he is best remembered for his warm presence, his loving and caring pastoral heart, his excellent sermons- but above all for the love he had for his family.
Our family wishes to express our deep thanks to the staff at Timothy Daniels House for their compassionate care given to our Dad and our family in the final weeks of his life.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Joan Wood, who shared equally in their caring ministry of church and community. He also leaves his five wonderful children, Elizabeth Manz (husband Daniel Manz), Paul Wood (wife Cindy Wood), Eric Wood, Marcia Haigh, Maria Armany (husband Ronnie Armany); his fifteen fabulous grandchildren and partners; and his six beautiful great-grandchildren.
Bob loved serving the wider community of Medfield for many years. A private family service was held this past week. Due to ongoing Covid concerns, there will not be a public memorial service. Condolences may be left at www.robertsmitchellcaruso.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Robert Wood may be made to Medfield Senior Center (Center at Medfield, 1 Ice House Rd, Medfield, MA 02052) or the Medfield Home Committee (459 Main St, attn: Georgia Colivas, Medfield, MA 02052) .
He was greatly loved and will be dearly missed.
Born in 1930 in Manchester, CT, son of Clarence and Eva Morey Wood, he was the youngest of four children. Theirs was a musically gifted family and Bob began taking piano lessons from his mother at five years of age. Several years later he began study of the organ.
At 13 years of age he became the church organist in the Ellington Congregational Church in Ellington, CT (salary $3.00/week). The following year he became organist/choir director (with a salary increase to $5.00/week). For thirteen more years he was organist and choir director serving several churches of the Congregational and Baptist traditions and for a time was organist on two radio stations. During those years he served as organist at a number of commemorative celebrations of World War II.
He graduated from Manchester High School and received his Bachelor of Music from Boston University with a major in Music Education and minor in Organ. He taught music education in grades 1-12 in four towns in New Hampshire and also taught piano and organ privately. He received his Bachelor of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Andover Newton Theological School, Newton, MA and continued extensive study in pastoral counseling.
Moving from the organ console to the pulpit, he served as minister in churches in Jamaica Plain, MA; Swampscott, MA; Westbrook, ME; New Canaan, CT; and concluded a 29 year pastorate in Medfield, MA. He also served as hospital chaplain in Maine and Massachusetts. In retirement he served as Interim Minister in the Canton, MA and Millis, MA United Churches of Christ and Chaplain in Residence at the Roberts-Mitchell-Caruso Funeral Home. During his ministry he officiated at hundreds of weddings, baptisms and funerals. Among the great joys of his life were the ministerial exchanges in which he and his wife Joan participated with the churches of Rayleigh, Huddersfield and Banbury, England.
His ministry included serving as a member and chair of numerous denominational and seminary committees. He was Moderator of the Metropolitan Boston Association of the United Church of Christ and served two terms as President of the Alumni Association of Andover Newton Theological School (ANTS). He was a member of two Presidential Search Committees for ANTS and also served on a national committee for critical evaluation and academic accreditation of theological schools.
He was a founding member of a church retirement home in Connecticut, a counseling center at the United Church of Christ in Medfield, and was an Executive Board member of the Seafarers Friend Society for many years.
He was active on many committees in Medfield- Fair Housing, Medfield Home Committee, Medfield Personnel Committee, Medfield Public Schools Superintendent’s Advisory Committee, Medfield Public Schools Drug and Alcohol Policy Committee, and the Search Committees for Principal of Wheelock School and the Medfield Chief of Police.
His ministry was marked by inclusiveness and acceptance of others. He had a great spirit of fellowship and involvement, not only with clergy of all denominations, but also with people of all ages and walks of life. Perhaps it is said that he is best remembered for his warm presence, his loving and caring pastoral heart, his excellent sermons- but above all for the love he had for his family.
Our family wishes to express our deep thanks to the staff at Timothy Daniels House for their compassionate care given to our Dad and our family in the final weeks of his life.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Joan Wood, who shared equally in their caring ministry of church and community. He also leaves his five wonderful children, Elizabeth Manz (husband Daniel Manz), Paul Wood (wife Cindy Wood), Eric Wood, Marcia Haigh, Maria Armany (husband Ronnie Armany); his fifteen fabulous grandchildren and partners; and his six beautiful great-grandchildren.
Bob loved serving the wider community of Medfield for many years. A private family service was held this past week. Due to ongoing Covid concerns, there will not be a public memorial service. Condolences may be left at www.robertsmitchellcaruso.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Robert Wood may be made to Medfield Senior Center (Center at Medfield, 1 Ice House Rd, Medfield, MA 02052) or the Medfield Home Committee (459 Main St, attn: Georgia Colivas, Medfield, MA 02052) .
He was greatly loved and will be dearly missed.