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January 9, 2011
Services
Funeral services will be held Saturday January 15, 2011 at 9:30 AM from the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne; then to the Immaculate Heart of Mary PC Church in Wayne where at 10:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered. Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Friday from 2-4, 7-9 PM. Those planning an expression of sympathy in Woody's memory are asked to consider the New Jersey Fireman's Home, 565 Lathrop Avenue, Boonton, NJ 07005 or the SPCA.
Robert E. Woodruff, "Woody," age 76 of Tampa, Florida formerly of Wayne, passed into life eternal on Sunday, January 9, 2011 at his home in Tampa. His passing was sudden and unexpected with his loving family at his side.
He was born in Paterson, New Jersey where he lived his early years. Woody was an only child, however he grew up with his first cousin, Harry Sargeant, as if they were brothers. Harry was also an only child and the two of them had a wonderful brotherly relationship.
He and Rose settled in Wayne in 1965 and lived there for forty-one years until Rose's death in 2007. He then moved to Tampa, Florida to live with his daughter Debra Burns. A Florida lifestyle had always been one of his dreams; fishing was a passion of his. His time in Florida was spent trying to recapture some of those dreams.
Being of genuine Irish stock, he would find himself with family members at local pubs at the age of ten where he would sing with his beautiful voice and entertain the patrons. He also was a member of the church choir at St. Josheph's Catholic Curch.
Woody received his formal education at Eastside High School in Paterson. He graduated from high school in June with the class of 1951. Right out of High School he joined the United States Navy and spent eight years in service. He was certified as a salvage diver and metalsmith. He never lost his affinity for the United States Navy; he tracked the history of battleships, made donations to the Memorial Funds, and kept up with the sports teams.
He was a good student, hardworker, and an achiever by nature; he went on to college at William Paterson University, graduating with the Class of 1975. He held a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Safety Administration and and Associates Degree in Fire Science. He later became a certified instructor at the Passaic County Fire Academy.
He applied for employment at the City of Paterson Fire Department and worked his way through the ranks to Captain. He retired from the fire department in 1987. After his retirement he became a fire inspector for Wayne Township and spent fourteen years on that job, finally retiring in 2000.
He was a member of many fireman's related groups throughout his career; having served as treasurer of the Paterson Fireman's Benevolent Association, charter member of the Paterson Police and Fire Emerald Society, NJ Association of Arson Investigators, Retired Police and Fireman's Association of Passiac County, and the New Jersey State FMBA. He was a licensed inspector by the Bureau of Fire Saftey in Trenton and a licensed EMT by the NJ State Board of Health in Trenton. He recieved the American Legion Valor Award, the NJ State FMBA Valor Award, mayor's and chief's medals in the fire department and company unit citations. He was proud to serve over the many years in all capacities of the fire science.
Perhaps the finest dedication of his life journey was his family whom he loved with all of his heart. Throughout his work career he would have several jobs so that he could provide especially well for his wife and children. His children recall him as the best father in the whole world.
Woody was gifted with a wonderful personality that easily made a host of friends. He could light up a room with humor as a result he had friends in many circles.
He met a cute girl named Rose Felice at the skating rink in Paterson. They married and had fifty-two years of wonderful marriage together until Rose's passing in February of 2007.
While living in Wayne he was a parishioner of the Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church.
Surviving to mourn this very special father and grandfather are a son, John Woodruff and his wife Jane of Kinnelon; three daughters, Debra Burns of Tampa, Florida and her partner, Tim Thompson, Sharon Schwake and her husband Peter of Howell, New Jersey, and Gail Woodruff of Wayne; seven grandchildren including John Ryan and Jake Woodruff, Jenna and Nicholas Tulino, Sara Rose, Dana, and Amanda Schwake.
A special thanks goes to his caretakers from Tampa, especially Brian Sawyer, a Tampa firefighter and his wife Daniella, Ivana Small, Emmanuel, Nelly, Dalia, Camilla, Stacey, and many others. These people provided an extended family for Woody when he was so far from home. Their care and concern will be forever appreciated.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Funeral services will be held Saturday January 15, 2011 at 9:30 AM from the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne; then to the Immaculate Heart of Mary PC Church in Wayne where at 10:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered. Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Friday from 2-4, 7-9 PM. Those planning an expression of sympathy in Woody's memory are asked to consider the New Jersey Fireman's Home, 565 Lathrop Avenue, Boonton, NJ 07005 or the SPCA.
January 9, 2011
Services
Funeral services will be held Saturday January 15, 2011 at 9:30 AM from the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne; then to the Immaculate Heart of Mary PC Church in Wayne where at 10:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered. Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Friday from 2-4, 7-9 PM. Those planning an expression of sympathy in Woody's memory are asked to consider the New Jersey Fireman's Home, 565 Lathrop Avenue, Boonton, NJ 07005 or the SPCA.
Robert E. Woodruff, "Woody," age 76 of Tampa, Florida formerly of Wayne, passed into life eternal on Sunday, January 9, 2011 at his home in Tampa. His passing was sudden and unexpected with his loving family at his side.
He was born in Paterson, New Jersey where he lived his early years. Woody was an only child, however he grew up with his first cousin, Harry Sargeant, as if they were brothers. Harry was also an only child and the two of them had a wonderful brotherly relationship.
He and Rose settled in Wayne in 1965 and lived there for forty-one years until Rose's death in 2007. He then moved to Tampa, Florida to live with his daughter Debra Burns. A Florida lifestyle had always been one of his dreams; fishing was a passion of his. His time in Florida was spent trying to recapture some of those dreams.
Being of genuine Irish stock, he would find himself with family members at local pubs at the age of ten where he would sing with his beautiful voice and entertain the patrons. He also was a member of the church choir at St. Josheph's Catholic Curch.
Woody received his formal education at Eastside High School in Paterson. He graduated from high school in June with the class of 1951. Right out of High School he joined the United States Navy and spent eight years in service. He was certified as a salvage diver and metalsmith. He never lost his affinity for the United States Navy; he tracked the history of battleships, made donations to the Memorial Funds, and kept up with the sports teams.
He was a good student, hardworker, and an achiever by nature; he went on to college at William Paterson University, graduating with the Class of 1975. He held a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Safety Administration and and Associates Degree in Fire Science. He later became a certified instructor at the Passaic County Fire Academy.
He applied for employment at the City of Paterson Fire Department and worked his way through the ranks to Captain. He retired from the fire department in 1987. After his retirement he became a fire inspector for Wayne Township and spent fourteen years on that job, finally retiring in 2000.
He was a member of many fireman's related groups throughout his career; having served as treasurer of the Paterson Fireman's Benevolent Association, charter member of the Paterson Police and Fire Emerald Society, NJ Association of Arson Investigators, Retired Police and Fireman's Association of Passiac County, and the New Jersey State FMBA. He was a licensed inspector by the Bureau of Fire Saftey in Trenton and a licensed EMT by the NJ State Board of Health in Trenton. He recieved the American Legion Valor Award, the NJ State FMBA Valor Award, mayor's and chief's medals in the fire department and company unit citations. He was proud to serve over the many years in all capacities of the fire science.
Perhaps the finest dedication of his life journey was his family whom he loved with all of his heart. Throughout his work career he would have several jobs so that he could provide especially well for his wife and children. His children recall him as the best father in the whole world.
Woody was gifted with a wonderful personality that easily made a host of friends. He could light up a room with humor as a result he had friends in many circles.
He met a cute girl named Rose Felice at the skating rink in Paterson. They married and had fifty-two years of wonderful marriage together until Rose's passing in February of 2007.
While living in Wayne he was a parishioner of the Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church.
Surviving to mourn this very special father and grandfather are a son, John Woodruff and his wife Jane of Kinnelon; three daughters, Debra Burns of Tampa, Florida and her partner, Tim Thompson, Sharon Schwake and her husband Peter of Howell, New Jersey, and Gail Woodruff of Wayne; seven grandchildren including John Ryan and Jake Woodruff, Jenna and Nicholas Tulino, Sara Rose, Dana, and Amanda Schwake.
A special thanks goes to his caretakers from Tampa, especially Brian Sawyer, a Tampa firefighter and his wife Daniella, Ivana Small, Emmanuel, Nelly, Dalia, Camilla, Stacey, and many others. These people provided an extended family for Woody when he was so far from home. Their care and concern will be forever appreciated.
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