Sad News, Roosevelt Island Resident Woody Deas Passed Away Earlier This Summer - A RI Toastmaster Who Touched The Lives Of Many With Warmth, Friendship And A Good Story, Condolences To His Family, Friends & Colleagues

Sad news. Roosevelt Island resident Woody Deas passed away this past summer. His friend and Roosevelt Island Toastmasters colleague Elena Como shares her remembrance:

Woody Deas passed away suddenly earlier this summer, at age 74.

On the evening of July 23rd, about 40 people gathered at the Community Center at 546 Main Street, formerly known as the Senior Center, to reminisce and tell stories about Woody. It was a diverse group, made up mostly of Woody’s friends and neighbors from the Roosevelt Island Senior Association and the Roosevelt Island Toastmasters Club. It was remarkable to hear the many different stories about how Woody touched the lives of so many people in the community.

I was a member of the Toastmasters club for about 9 years and I remember Woody fondly. He was always warm and friendly, ready to tell a joke, happy to listen to a speech and give helpful feedback. Woody served the club very loyally as its Sargent-at-Arms; unlocking the meeting room and putting up the Toastmasters banner and podium, setting up the chairs and tables, putting out the after-meeting snacks and sodas, and then putting everything away after the meeting ended. Over the years, I heard him give speeches about his love of computers, his interest in history, and his life experiences. He had worked with computers as a younger man, and he was always willing to help his friends and neighbors set up and trouble-shoot their computers and printers. He was a soft-spoken presence and a good listener.

I will miss him.

Condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Woody Deas.