Obituary of Dean A. Woodard

Dean A. Woodard, age 76, of Rome, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2017, at SUNY Upstate Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family. Dean was born in Syracuse on August 15, 1940 to the late C. Ivan and Velma Baumbach Woodard. He graduated from Onondaga Valley School (class of 59) and obtained his Bachelor's Degree from SUNY Oswego (class of 63). Dean came to Rome as a Student Teacher (spring of 1963) at Strough Jr. High and was immediately hired as a History Teacher at RFA. He was the Student Advisor for many years and helped form the statewide Government Class curriculum. This includes developing the 'Heat of Fusion' competition that continues at RFA today. He truly loved working with both fellow teachers and the many students throughout the years. In June of 1995 Dean retired from teaching after 32 years. On August 19, 1967, he was united in marriage to Kathleen Nichols and they were to celebrate their 50th Anniversary this August. In his youth, Dean was very active in the Boy Scouts. He was awarded the Order of the Arrow and worked for the Boy Scouts at Camp Askenota, which was located in Lake Placid, NY. When first moving to the Rome area Dean was very active in the Lake Delta Volunteer Fire Department and was a forming member of the Town of Lee Democratic Club. Dean was active in his children's lives including Boy Scout Leader and coaching Little League and girls' softball in the Town of Lee. Recently Dean has been an active member of the Utica Sail & Power Squadron where he was a former Commander and enjoyed instructing boater safety courses to the public and publishing their newsletter, the Bilgewater. Dean is survived by his wife of 50 years, Kathleen; two daughters and sons in law, Deanna and Kelly Lozier of Ballston Lake, NY, and Susanne and Ronald Hebble of Camden; a son and daughter in law, Dr. Martin and Dodie Woodard of Radford, VA; and eight grandchildren, Devin, Delainey, Jack, Samantha, Luke, Abby, Andy, and Riley. He was predeceased by a brother, Hart Ivan Woodard. There will be no showing or calling hours. A Celebration of Life will be held on August 19, 2017, on Hebble Hill, all day. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are entrusted to the Barry Funeral Home, 807 W. Chestnut Street.