Dr. John Patrick Wood

1934 - 2021

On Friday September 3, 2021 Dr. John Patrick Wood died in his home in Watch Hill, RI. He lived in the same home for 57 years and was often heard saying he wanted to live his last days there.
John Patrick Wood (Jack) was born on May 7, 1934 in Newark NJ, the child of Mildred and John Wood. On September 1, 1940 a second son Richard Wood joined the family. They lived in various towns in Long Island, the last one was in Forest Hills, LI right across from the famous tennis courts. The family spent summers in a little cottage on Long Beach off the south side of Long Island. There Jack learned to swim and body surf, the sports he loved and practiced all of his life.
Jack graduated from Brooklyn Preparatory school at the age of 15 and started his freshman year at Holy Cross College in September of 1950. He graduated from Holy Cross Magna Cum Laude in May of 1954. That year he entered Yale University Medical School as a first-year medical student. He graduated from Yale in May of 1958. Dr. Wood went on at Yale to complete a Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He served as a Captain in the Army Reserves, MASH unit from 1962-1968. He moved to Westerly RI in July of 1963, started solo medical practice and then Ob-Gyn Associates in 1970 - when he joined Dr. Louis LaPere and Dr. Douglas Rayner, who became lifelong friends in their practice at 80 Beach Street.
He practiced his specialty there for 37 years, retiring from medicine in 2000 but staying active in management of the partnership some years after. By the time of his retirement, few families in the area didn't have children come into the world by his or his partners' hands; for some, multiple generations.
Dr. Wood married a Yale Medical School classmate, Pauline Bucknell in 1956 with whom he had six sons between 1956 and 1966 - Kevin, Brian, Timothy, Michael (deceased shortly after birth), Christopher, and Douglas. Pauline, five sons, five grandchildren, his brother Richard and loving dog Riley survive him.
When the boys were young, he would take them to the beach whenever there was surf, put them on his back, and swim out to catch waves. Some of the boys, while being slightly traumatized by these early immersions, became lifelong lovers of bodysurfing, and really anything on, or in, the ocean. Jack took his sons on many special birthday trips: Kevin to NYC to open his young eyes to the Age of Aquarius in seeing original productions of "Hair"and Jesus Christ Superstar"; Tim to Boston for Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops.
After moving to Watch Hill, he joined the Watch Hill Yacht Club and Misquamicut Club, and along with his family took up sailing, golf and tennis. Sailing and boats became a family affair and lifelong love for most of the family. Jack & Pauline were early adopters of charter cruising in the islands, sailing with friends and family in the Virgin Islands, Eastern Caribbean, Bahamas and Mediterranean - starting in the late 1960's and continuing into the 21st century.
Jack and Pauline also introduced the family to horseback riding, a pursuit he continued until too many spills made it prudent to stop. He obtained a pilot's license, but also gave that up after a few scares; but continued to play the safer sport of golf well into his mid-80's (though even once found that hazardous, breaking a hand one winter day slipping off a green on a patch of ice!). He and his longtime friend and golf partner, Dr. Ed Moore (who recently also passed away were fixtures at the Misquamicut Club for years.
He was always a most understanding and forgiving father, however his sons might have gone astray. When Brian was 17, about to quit high school to join the Marines (which required a parent's signature at that age) he said he would sign the papers but only if, after spending 6 weeks doing volunteer work in Nigeria with him, Brian still wanted to quit school and sign up. The experience changed the trajectory of Brian's life: after seeing the conditions in Nigeria and talking with kids there his age, Brian recognized his ignorance and determined to take advantage of the opportunities he had, giving up the idea of quitting school to join the service. His unconditional love and support undoubtedly gave his sons, and eventually daughters-in-law, an advantage in life few ever have.
Dr. John P. Wood's life was one well-lived, which positively touched so many others. He will be missed, but his memory cherished.
Donations in Dr. Wood's honor can be made at either:
East Beach Association http://www.watchhilleba.org/donate
Or
Hope Health Hospice https://www.hopehealthco.org/ways-to-give/donatenow/
A memorial Mass will be held at St. Claire's Church in Misquamicut on September 20 at 10:00 AM.