Obituary: Robert Woodcock, 86

Robert G. Woodcock, Jr., 86, of Bethel, passed away on January 16, 2013, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. He was the husband of the late Therese (Tesch) Woodcock.

Robert was born September 23, 1926 in Somerset, Massachusetts, son of the late Robert G. & Lena M. (Smith) Woodcock, Sr. He spent his childhood in Bridgeport, graduating from Central High School. Robert was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater with Headquarters Company on the island of Guam as a Cryptographer. He was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of Staff Sargeant. Robert was a graduate of Bentley College in Massachusetts. He married Therese (Tesch) on February 18, 1950 and they lived in the Boston area until moving back to Bridgeport in 1955. He worked as Credit Manager at Bridgeport Hospital until he moved to Danbury in 1961 to become Director of Patient Relations at Danbury Hospital. He later operated his own Credit and Collection Agency on Main Street in Danbury, and his last position was as Credit Manager for the B.J. Dolan Company in Bethel, retiring in 1988 to care for his terminally ill wife. Through his work he was active in many credit organizations. He was a past President of the Connecticut Hospital Credit Managers Association and also past President of the New England Hospital Credit Managers Association. He was one of the organizers of the American Guild of Patient Account Management and served as its 3rd President. For his service to the American Guild (now known as American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management) he was voted Honorary Life Membership. Extremely proud of his association with Bentley College, Robert was past President of the Southern Connecticut Chapter of Bentley College Alumni Association. He was also a member of the "Blue & Gold Society" at the College. A long-time member of the Kiwanis Club of Danbury, he served as President in 1967 and also served as Lt. Governor for the New England District of Kiwanis International. Robert was also a past President of the Danbury Unit-American Cancer Society and volunteered as the accountant for I-Can Cancer Support Group. Robert was a member of St. Joseph's Church in Danbury for many years, serving as a lector and an active member of the Men's Club. In his later years he attended St. Peter Church of Danbury. 

Robert will be sadly missed by his three daughters, Patti Pou and her husband, Fred of Centerville, Ohio, Anne Forman of Danbury, and Susan Creter and her husband, Bob of Danbury; his four grandchildren, Jennifer Gotthardt and her husband, Scott of Kettering, Ohio, Christine Creter-Hood and her husband, Stephen of New Fairfield, Michael Creter and his wife, Jessica of Oakville, and Jessica Casiano and her husband, Ted of New Windsor, New York; and his six great grandchildren, Samantha Short and Kaylee Huff of Kettering, Ohio, Dominic Romano of New Windsor, New York, Mattingly and Sebastian Creter of Oakville, and Colin Hood of New Fairfield. He is also survived by his sisters, Louise Fitzpatrick, and Anne Dorey and her husband, Jack of Florida, and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by a brother, John Woodcock, a sister, Betty Hansen, and a granddaughter, Katie Pou. Robert's happiest times were spent with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and he looked forward every year to his vacation time in Ogunquit, Maine with them. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 22nd at 10:30am at St. Peter Church, Danbury. Burial will follow in St. Peter Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Green Funeral Home, 57 Main Street, Danbury on Monday, January 21st between the hours of 5:00 and 8:00pm. Contributions in Robert's memory may be made to "Ann's Place, the Home of I CAN", 80 Saw Mill Road, Danbury, CT 06810.