Services were held Wednesday at Our Lady of Angels Church in Rocky River for the Euclid Chamber of Commerce's Businessman of the Year for 2008, Tom Woods.
Woods, 57, died suddenly early Friday morning. He was honored in February by the chamber of commerce at its annual dinner for his work as CEO of the Gateway Retirement Community, 3 Gateway Drive. He was also known for his charitable work, including work done for the Euclid Hunger Center.
Woods and developer Paul Voinovich built Gateway, off East 200th Street, 20 years ago.
Although he was a Rocky River resident, Woods told the Euclid Sun Journal the day he won the chamber award, "I worked at the Midwest Bank branch on Babbitt Road before (founding Gateway), so I've been associated with Euclid a long time.
"I love it here. I drive from the west side every day to be in Euclid."
At Gateway, Woods, although CEO, was known to be a visible presence who wasn't afraid of doing tasks such as shoveling snow.
Woods was set to serve as the local chamber of commerce's president in 2009.
Mayor Bill Cervenik was one of many friends the outgoing Woods had in Euclid.
"He had a great sense of humor," Cervenik said. "He took life just seriously enough. I just loved the guy. He was a phenomenal guy.
"He would help out at the hunger center and, he wouldn't want me to say this but, if we went into a restaurant and he saw someone who looked down and out or who needed picking up, he would have that person's bill sent over to him and take care of it. That's the kind of guy he was."
Woods is survived by his wife, Kathleen, son, Robert, and daughter, Kaitlin.
Lynne Wagner
This is our Tom:
EUCLID SUN JOURNAL
Euclid: Tom Woods, 57, was to become chamber president next year
Updated Sep 30, 2008; Posted Sep 30, 2008
By Jeff Piorkowski/special to cleveland.com jeff.piorkowski@att.net
Services were held Wednesday at Our Lady of Angels Church in Rocky River for the Euclid Chamber of Commerce's Businessman of the Year for 2008, Tom Woods.
Woods, 57, died suddenly early Friday morning. He was honored in February by the chamber of commerce at its annual dinner for his work as CEO of the Gateway Retirement Community, 3 Gateway Drive. He was also known for his charitable work, including work done for the Euclid Hunger Center.
Woods and developer Paul Voinovich built Gateway, off East 200th Street, 20 years ago.
Although he was a Rocky River resident, Woods told the Euclid Sun Journal the day he won the chamber award, "I worked at the Midwest Bank branch on Babbitt Road before (founding Gateway), so I've been associated with Euclid a long time.
"I love it here. I drive from the west side every day to be in Euclid."
At Gateway, Woods, although CEO, was known to be a visible presence who wasn't afraid of doing tasks such as shoveling snow.
Woods was set to serve as the local chamber of commerce's president in 2009.
Mayor Bill Cervenik was one of many friends the outgoing Woods had in Euclid.
"He had a great sense of humor," Cervenik said. "He took life just seriously enough. I just loved the guy. He was a phenomenal guy.
"He would help out at the hunger center and, he wouldn't want me to say this but, if we went into a restaurant and he saw someone who looked down and out or who needed picking up, he would have that person's bill sent over to him and take care of it. That's the kind of guy he was."
Woods is survived by his wife, Kathleen, son, Robert, and daughter, Kaitlin.
Diane Kempfer (Miller)
Lynne, thank you for the correct information I took down the incorrect post. Again, thank you for your contribution.