Obituary of William "Rick" Wood

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of William Richard “Rick” Wood husband of Susan Tyska-Wood after a courageous five year battle with esophageal cancer. He was born in 1947 in Hartford to William and Rita (McGowan) Wood. He was a graduate of East Catholic High School and St. Anselm College. Rick was a beloved English teacher at East Hartford High School for 43 years where he also coached baseball, boys’ basketball, track, and girls’ varsity basketball for many years. In addition, he was a soccer referee and member of the CSOA-CT for many years.

Rick was an avid golfer and a long- time member of Manchester Country Club where he made many lasting friendships and a few birdies, especially enjoying the rounds he shared with Kyle and Sue despite his grumbling about fellow golfers who did not replace their divots. Most of all Rick enjoyed watching his boys participate in their various youth, high school and college sports, spending innumerable hours in bleachers observing and encouraging his sons. Nothing, however, brought him more joy than watching his granddaughters play soccer. The girls were the light of his life and their love for him sustained him through his illness. He looked forward to picking them up at the bus stop and kicking the soccer ball around the yard with them. Besides his loving and devoted wife, Susan, he leaves his three sons who adored him, Brian and his wife, Kim and their children Kylah and Kinsley of South Windsor; Kyle and his wife Madeline of Glastonbury and Cory of Los Angeles, CA. In addition, he leaves his sister, Tish O’Brien and her husband Bill and his in-laws, Tom and Ruth Tyska, Roberta and Jami Tyska and her husband Val Hickey. 

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday September 24, 2018 at Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave. Glastonbury with burial to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Glastonbury. Calling hours will be Sunday afternoon, September 23, 2018 from 2:00 to 5:00. Feel free to send flowers or to make a donation to a charity of your choice.  In honor of Rick’s inclination to wear bright, coordinated clothing, especially on the golf course, feel free to honor him with bright socks and/or colorful golf attire.  The family would like to extend their gratitude to the Oncology Departments at St Francis Hospital Cancer Center and Memorial Sloane Kettering in New York for their expertise and genuine care and concern.