Remembering Woody

We lost one of the “good guys” this weekend.  Retired Police Lieutenant Steve Wood (affectionately known as Woody to many of us) lost his courageous battle with Pancreatic Cancer over the weekend.

Many of us remember Woody and New Canaan’s first police dog, Ex, back in the day.  Woody and the German Sheppard were seen all over town.  I remember as a kid thinking something odd was going on because Woody spoke in German to the dog; I later came to understand that the dog was trained to answer to commands in German so as to be controlled solely by Woody in a operation.  Pretty cool I thought.

Lt Wood was the leader of our PD’s Honor Guard and he proudly marched every Memorial Day at the head of the PD’s line of march.  I remember thinking it so strange 2 years ago when Woody retired to not see him marching.  But, although a Westchester County resident, there he was on the sidewalk in front of the Fire House still attending and enjoying New Canaan’s Memorial Day parade.  That’s one of my favorite memories.

We can all be consoled by the fact that Woody enjoyed life so much.  He was most fond of his wife Pat and the rest of his family (his son in law is a police officer in our town, Aaron La Tourette), his Harley, his morning coffees at Zumbachs, working out at the gym and his hunting in the Catskills. As sick as he was, he was able to enjoy all of his interests right up to the very end.

Rest in Peace Woody.  We will miss you-

Rob Mallozzi III