Obituary of Richard L. "Dick Wood" Woodward

RICHARD L. WOODWARD

Latham- Richard L. “Dick Wood” Woodward, 91 of Latham, beloved husband of Kristin L. Jannitto Woodward, entered into eternal life on November 5, 2021 at his home with his beloved family at his side.

Born in Marlboro, MA on November 3, 1930, he was the son of the late Loren F. and Hazel (Bremner) Woodward.  Dick married the love of his life Kristin L. Jannitto on July 10, 1972 and the two have shared a beautiful marriage of almost 50 years. 

Dick was raised in Hudson, MA. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1952 during the Korean War and served until being honorably discharged as a Corporal in 1954.  He was a graduate of the Leland Powers School of Radio, Television and Theater in Boston, Massachusetts class of 1955. Dick worked for several stations and networks over the years including WFGM in Fitchburg MA, WWCO in Waterbury, CT, WAAB in Worcester, MA, WSPR in Springfield, MA, WJAR Radio in Providence RI, where, in 1968, he entered television as prime anchor for WJAR TV.  In 1973 he and his wife moved to Albany where Dick would work as prime anchor for WTEN– TV and stayed until his retirement in 1991. From 2000 to 2016 he worked at WABY.   For several years while at WABY, Dick engaged in a beloved project producing and hosting a weekly jazz show for the local audience.

Dick received several honors and recognitions over the years.  Congressman Jerry Solomon entered Dick into the Congressional Record for his fairness in news reporting. He was honored to receive the State Police Newsman of the Year Award for three consecutive years and was a fixture on the Center for Disability Telethons. Dick could often be seen at antique car shows and auctions and was an avid collector of antique banks and Frank Sinatra memorabilia and music.

Dick will always be remembered as a gentle man, consummate storyteller, friend to all… a true man of honor. We loved him for his humanity, humor and goodness.

Dick is survived by his artist wife Kristin, his wife’s Rhode Island family Peter (Betty) Jannitto, Arthur Jannitto, Monica Jannitto-Goodwin, Mark (Darcy) Jannitto, many nieces, nephews, cousins and very dear friends.   The family would like to thank his Hospice team for their compassionate care.

Relatives and friends are invited and may call at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham on Tuesday, November 9^th, 2021 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 10^th, 2021, 10:00 am at Our Lady of the Assumption Church.

Funeral mass will be live-streamed and may be found at https://olalatham.org/youtube-channel-2/. 

Interment with full military honors will immediately follow at Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of the Assumption Church at the address above, The Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate, or the American Heart Association at https://www.heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give.

For directions, information, to light a memory candle or order flowers for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com.