John W. Woodruff

John W. Woodruff, 98, a longtime resident of Needham, MA, Harwich Port, MA, and Naples, FL, died May 26, 2011, after suffering a heart attack at his home at the Village at Waterman Lake in Greenville, RI.
He was born on Sept. 12, 1912 in Boston, MA, one of eight children of the late Norman F. Woodruff and Mabel (Johnston) Woodruff.
A former President of the Needham Golf Club and Quail Run in Naples, he was well known by golfers throughout New England and Florida for his prowess on the golf course and his gregarious and generous nature.
He began playing golf at the age of 14 while caddying in Needham, and it became his lifelong passion. A member of the Wellesley Country Club, as well as Eastward Ho and Cranberry Valley on Cape Cod, his fame as a golfer spread with his lifetime three holes-in-one, his club championships, and his frequent victories in member-guest tournaments competing with men half his age.
He had an amazing ability to teach others, and as recently as six years ago, played golf several days a week at his former retirement home in Florida. An annual tournament at Quail Run was named after him when he reached the age of 90,
Mr. Woodruff worked for 50 years in the electrical contracting business as a purchasing agent and company officer for some of New England's largest contractors, including M.B. Foster and Lord Electrical Co. He was a big fan of New England sports teams, especially the Boston Red Sox and Celtics.
He was married to his high school sweetheart Margaret (Peggy) Rice Woodruff of Needham, who died in 1986. They had two children, Nancy Lee of Needham, and Reading, MA, who died in 1992, and Jane of Mystic, CT.
Besides his daughter Jane, he is survived by a sister, Mabel Rice of Gloucester, eight grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Richard Greenleaf Jr., Cindy Greenleaf, Susan Liberty, Heidi Jensen, Michael Jensen Jr., Steve Schmall, Randy Schmall and Brad Schmall; 21 great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; and twin step-great-great grandchildren.
In addition to his wife and one daughter, he was predeceased by his brothers Norman, Milton, Robert and William; and his sisters Dorothea Kirkham, and Ollie Kerr; by granddaughter, Debbie (Greenleaf) LoSasso, great-grandson,Todd Greenleaf, and step-great-granddaughter Leanne Schmall.
A private service for family and relatives will be held at 11 AM June 3, at the Eaton Funeral Home, 1351 Highland Ave., Needham, MA, with burial in the family plot in Needham Cemetery. There will be no visiting hours.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund, 300 Arnold Palmer Blvd, Norton, MA 02766, which benefits caddies and others working in the golfing industry
　

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