John "Toogie" Wood

2/1/1933 - 11/18/2024

Sebastian, Fla. - John "Toogie" Wood was born at home Feb. 1, 1933. He went to heaven Nov. 18, 2024, at the age of 91 and a half. He was the second of two sons of Dorothy May Rowley and Herman William Wood, and a Mayflower descendant from the Edward Fuller family.

Dad graduated from Chapman Tech in New London. He was a sharpshooter in the U.S. Marine Corps. Thankfully, he didn't see any combat because the Korean War ended.

He met our mother Elaine Boska Wood at a St. Patrick's Day dance at Ocean Beach. They made a gorgeous couple and married June 4, 1955, at St. John's Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Chesterfield. They raised their two children, Eric Wood (Gales Ferry) and Allison Wood Perkins, husband Norm Perkins, (Barefoot Bay, Fla.) in Groton. They are blessed with four adoring grandchildren: Joseph Rifkin, Rebecca Rifkin, Kelly Wood and Michael Wood; and three great-grandchildren, Kaliyah, Kai and Kobe Wiese; and several step-grandchildren; and a great-step-grandson, Aidan Perkins.

After Elaine passed in 2003, Dad married Judith Strickland in 2016. It warmed our hearts to know he was not alone, and he was with somebody we've known all our lives, our mother's best friend. Judy survives him.

Dad was employed at EB starting as a welder and retiring at age 55, as a senior designer. He worked on the Nautilus. He was a member of the MDA and went through many heartbreaking strikes. He also worked part-time at Pat's TV, delivering appliances. After retirement, he took up organic gardening selling produce at the local farmers markets.

Dad loved living near the water. For fun, he owned various powerboats and sail boats exploring Fishers Island, Long Island and Block Island Sound; crabbing at night at Bluff Point; clamming in the Niantic River; and saltwater fishing. He made long distance boat trips from Lake Erie to Groton, Niantic to Florida on the ICW, and Niantic to Fort Ticonderoga.

He enjoyed singing bass in the New London Barbershop SPEBSQSA participating in the chorus and quartets. He sang at and attended the Second Congregational church in New London.

Dad loved model railroads, once designing the old New London train bridge. He kept busy taking care of the farm and grounds at Silver Falls in Chesterfield and tinkering around fixing boats and machinery. Dad and Mom traveled throughout the U.S. and Canada staying in campgrounds or the boat, "The Bottomline."

Dad had many, many good friends. Earlier in life, he was friends with Eddie Mitchell, Larry Strickland, Joe Laro, George Payne, Norm Tipton, brother Billy Wood and his cousin Donald Rowley, and later, he became friends with Bill Keene, Norm Richards, Sue and Dee Moore and his best friend Bob McNally, whom he loved, to name a few.

He loved the Lord and truly displayed the fruits of the spirit: Galatians 5:22.

We want to thank the angels at Pelican Landing in Sebastian, Fla., and Hospice for their kindness and patience during his last days.

Dad died of cerebral arteriosclerosis Nov. 18, 2024. We plan on bringing Dad's ashes to Connecticut in the spring 2025.

"We love you and will miss you, Dad."