B.J. “Woody” Woodward, 82, of Peterborough, a proud resident of the Monadnock region for the past 55 years, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2026, at Cheshire Medical Center. He was born on June 29, 1943, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to Barclay J. Woodward III and Barbara (Vaughan) Woodward.

Woody grew up in Duxbury, Massachusetts, and one of his fondest childhood memories was hitting a game‑winning home run during the town’s Independence Day celebration game. His love of the outdoors and dedication to education came together in his roles as an outdoor education specialist and summer camp director for the City of Boston. During this time, he was blessed to meet the love of his life, Patricia (LaRossa), who would later become his wife. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. After settling in the Monadnock region, Woody found his work supporting vocational education at the Hampshire Country School in Rindge, New Hampshire to be especially rewarding. His student projects ranged from developing turbine machinery to produce electricity to building a windmill and installing a rope tow for skiing.

Fiercely independent, Woody founded his own carpentry and general home contracting business, tackling projects that ranged from finely crafted bookcases to solar home construction. His creativity shone through in both his woodworking and his natural problem‑solving abilities. In later years, he channeled his artistic flair into “Woody’s Goodies,” crafting custom, one‑of‑a‑kind pieces from his extensive collection of repurposed wood.

Woody was actively involved in local sports, enjoyed “mush ball” softball at Adams Playground, playing on the “Woody’s” volleyball team with family and friends during the winter, and sharing his time and talents as a junior league youth baseball coach. A lover of all music, Woody was especially supportive of his son’s musical pursuits, building a “band room” where he and others could practice and create. He found great joy in playing his guitar, singing duets with his wife, and writing songs with his friend Kern. Woody had a great sense of humor and a mischievous streak that, on occasion, led to good-natured embarrassment for his wife!

In addition to his beloved wife, Patricia (LaRossa) Woodward, Woody is survived by his son John Woodward of Charlotte, North Carolina; his son Jeff Woodward and wife Tiffany Crawford of Arlington, Virginia; grandsons Tyler and Owen; sisters Pashya White of Peterborough and Susan Carl of Bismarck, North Dakota; and brother Michael Woodward of Signal Mountain, Tennessee.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at Peterborough United Methodist Church, 43 Concord Street, Peterborough, New Hampshire. The service will be followed by a reception in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Woody’s name to the River Center, Peterborough, https://www.rivercenternh.org/