Chili, NY: December 21, 2019 at age 73. Bill was born August 6, 1946 in Mt. Pleasant, PA to Randell E. and Ruth Jeanne Hixon Wood. In the early 60’s they moved to Rochester, NY where he graduated from Brighton High School in 1964. He attended SUNY College at Brockport where he majored in Physical Education graduating in 1968.
Bill was an All-American in Track & Field. He was a Physical Education and Health teacher at Churchville-Chili Central School District for 30 years where he also coached Cross-Country and Track & Field.
Following his retirement, Bill continued to be involved in Section V sports as an officiant for Section V Track & Field and was a member of G.R.C.O.T.F. He also volunteered with the Special Olympics.
Bill was inducted into multiple Hall of Fames including SUNY College at Brockport Golden Eagle Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987, Section V Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2007 and Greater Rochester Track Club in 2017.
Bill was a member of Caledonia Country Club where he spent many mornings golfing. He loved the beach and enjoyed visiting Florida and Disney. He could often be found driving around town in his Corvette convertible with his dog Nike, where it was 4EVRSUMR.
He is survived by his daughters Heather (Michael) Graniero of New York Mills and Karri (Eric) Zwirlein of Lancaster, NY, grandchildren Benjamin (Amanda) Graniero of Liverpool, NY and Zoe and Evan Zwirlein, and Great-Grandson Dustin Graniero, his sister Mari (Ed) McLean of Spencerport, NY, nephews Scott McLean, Mark (Kimberly) McLean, and Corey McLean (Jacquie Ritterbusch). Bill is also survived by cherished friends Carol Thompson, Neil & Lill Barton, Hal Rothman, David Bachman, and too many others to name.
Bill’s visitation will be held Monday, December 30th from 4-7 PM at Arndt Funeral Home, 1118 Long Pond Road, Rochester, NY 14626. A Celebration of his Life will follow visitation in the funeral home chapel at 7PM.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Lollipop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester.
Dear Bill,
We were looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks! Rest in Peace, my friend!
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss Heather. Please know that we in Pittsburgh are praying for you and your family during this difficult time and are here for you to lean on when needed.
Heather and family – may fond memories ease your pain. Thinking of you during this difficult time.
Our warmest wishes for peace to all the family during the days. Bill was an expeditionary man and we are so glad to have called him friend for so many years.
Bill
We’re going to miss you on New Years Eve👨🍳 and I’m going to miss our bike rides and long talks. Enjoy haven now you outback with Nike!!
Sandy
My condolences. I remember him working at Chestnut Ridge Elementary School and then met up with him again at Churchville – Chili HS. What a warm and engaging person. Loved having him for home room. He seemed to reach out to all the kids he knew after HS. He will be missed.
Heather and Kari, Pat and I wish to offer the both of you our heart felt sympathy. We did not know your Dad that well but if you two are a reflection of him and how good a person he was he was not only a great man but someone who will be missed immensely.
Please know that we join you in your sorrow.
We love you both.
Pat & Ed Traugott
Stay well,
Pat & Ed Traugott.
Coaching with Bill at Churchville-Chili gave me some of my best memories. There isn’t nearly enough room here to even begin to relate these memories, but if anyone wants to get a sense of the humor Bill and I shared, ask me about “The List” and “The Track Meet in Buffalo”. A great mentor, coach, and friend. I am a much better person for having known him. Rest In Peace, Bill, and may your family find strength in this time of mourning.
I’ve known and respected Bill for 49 years since we met in 1970. Lately we have reconnected in officiating where he was quick to answer any questions I had or tell me a joke when I had no question. I am in California visiting my son so I can’t make it back for the service, sadly! But RIP to a wonderful human being!
We hold our memories of Bill very dear to our hearts. I began my coaching career as his assistant way back in the 1970’s. Bill was the perfect match for helping mentor this young man. We cherished every chance we had to reconnect and keep updated with his journey. We will miss his humor, his unpretentious manner, his unique perspective, his hugs, his friendship and his love. We lift our hearts and prayers on behalf of his family and friends. Rest in peace old friend.
We are lifting Bill’s family up in prayer. Bill and I are cousins. His mother and my dad were siblings, Before we relocated to Montana, Bill would visit Aunt Sally just about every year and we would have a chance to talk about the Steelers. He will be missed by many. Blessings and Love from Rapelje, Montana
Bill, Thanks for all you have done to be a role model for athletes and coaches like myself. When I think of you I think of warmth, caring and giving! You were a tenacious competitor and a good friend! You were always there with a positive comment and a fun Jab. It saddens me to know you are not here anymore and I hope you know you are loved and thought well of and you will be missed! God Bless, Dan
Dear Heather and Karri, Your dad was a special friend of the Steinwachs family. He supported and coached our three kids and was a friend to Sharon and I. He shared a special night with us when we accepted Adams induction into the CCHS Athletic Hall of Fame. It meant a lot to Adam as he was deployed overseas.
God Bless you and your families.
Joe and Sharon Steinwachs
May you rest peacefully. Thanks for all the laughs and positive thoughts.
RIP Bill. Condolences and prayers to family.
Dear Karri, what a beautiful story your dad had and it made me smile to see him in his Steeler garb. I am so sorry for your loss. The notes of condolences are touching. He must have been a great dad and friend to so many. God bless you and your family at this time.
Voni
The Churchville-Chili Saints will greatly miss you Coach Wood. Your leadership here as a teacher and coach touched and influenced countless lives. Even in retirement, you continued to show your love and support of the Saints with your willingness to return and help out at our Hall of Fame ceremonies and your consistent positive messages on social media. We will all have very fond memories of you. Our home track meets will never be the same again without you here as our lead official. You were a great man!
It was great to see you both (and Dave), though not under these circumstances. We have many memories, most of them hilarious. Even in dark times, we always found laughter.
Our phone 638-8007
My email kteacher@rochester.rr.com
Would love to stay in touch.
Fondly,
Dee & Jim
My favorite memory of your dad was a day at lugia’s when bill drove in with his corvette and my young son asked me what kind of car Jesus would drive. I told him that It would probably be a van . My son shook his head and said “no , it would be a corvette ! Bill reached us in different ways. His uncle student taught with him and had the greatest respect. My deepest sympathy to your family. Tina Jones