Robert Edward Wood

Robert Edward Wood, 81, died on October 28, 2025. His battle with esophogeal cancer ended after he elected hospice/palliative care the weekend before he passed. At the time of his decision, he could no longer walk because of cancer on the spine. He also had cancer spread to the lungs, which were filled with fluid. He had been hospitalized in Northside Hospital's ICU since October 1, 2025, and he was not making progress in physical therapy. The death occurred at AccentCare Hospice in Cumming, GA. His youngest daughter Elizabeth Wood and brother-in-law Irby Langley visited him earlier that day. The nursing staff spoke highly of him and said he described being an English teacher even while his breathing was difficult. Both his older daughter Katherine Teoli and son Michael Wood were able to see their father the weekend before he passed. Despite how sick he was, he had a peaceful death at night.
Bob Wood was born on October 14, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York to James Wood and Joan Murphy Wood. He had three younger siblings: Gregory Wood, William Wood, and Patricia Wood. The family moved a lot. Bob, who was smart, developed a strong work ethic from his father who was both an engineer and a lawyer. Bob Wood would often describe the character-building frustrations of building a birdhouse while reading Great Expectations and attending a Catholic all-boys' school. Even though he griped about too much work, he earned advanced degrees in Statistics and English from Brooklyn Polytech (NYU) and University of Virginia. He loved his job as Associate Professor in the Literature, Media, and Communication department of Georgia Tech and always reminded his family that it was wrong not to root for the Yellow Jackets.
Bob Wood was a true scholar and continued to publish on subjects such as Kenneth Branagh and Alfred Hitchcock. He wrote four books during his lifetime: Some Necessary Questions of the Play, Gorizia Notebook, The Awkward Poses of Others, and Sleight of Hand. Three of them were books of poetry. He wrote one last poem the week before he died.
Bob Wood was a loving husband to Carolyn Langley Wood who he met while acting for OnStage Atlanta. He joked to Elizabeth that he met her mother while he was putting on his makeup and she walked by carrying a couch. They were married for over forty years before she passed from lung cancer.
Bob Wood was the grandfather to Hogan and his wife Tanzina, Dana, and Thora. They called him Grappy or Grandpa.
In Bob's last year, he saw his oldest daughter Kathy marry Kersen Teoli in Chattanooga, TN.
The memorial service will be held at Crowell Brothers Funeral Home on Sunday November 9, 2025 at two o'clock with reception to follow. The funeral is open to all who knew Robert E. Wood-professor, writer, husband, father, grandfather, and comedian.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.crowellbrothers.com. Arrangements by Crowell Brothers Peachtree Chapel Funeral Home, 5051 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Norcross/Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. (770)448-5757.