John 'Jack' R. Woodsmall

STERLING - John "Jack" R. Woodsmall, 87, a retired fire chief of the Sterling Fire Department, died peacefully on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at UMass Memorial Medical Center-University Campus, Worcester, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Leominster, a son of the late Raymond and Elizabeth (Peontak) Woodsmall.



Jack was raised on Sholan Farms in Leominster, graduated from Leominster High School and later attended Quinsigamond Community College. While still in high school, Jack enlisted in the US Army and following graduation left to serve with the Army of the Occupation in Europe from 1945-1946. He returned home and married his sweetheart, Marion L. Taylor. They relocated to Sterling where they became active members of the community and raised their four children. Jack was a self-employed carpenter for many years with his friend, Welby MacCollom, and they were known around town as Mac & Jack. He also worked for Bolton Orchards for many years as the supervisor of the seasonal apple pickers. In 1952, Jack began his service to the community as an on-call member of the Sterling Fire Department and later served as a lieutenant, captain and deputy chief before being appointed Chief in 1977. In 1980, Jack became the first fulltime Fire Chief. He retired in 1985 after almost 34 years of service. He also served as a member of the Housing Authority while it developed the first senior housing complex in town, Sholan Terrace. Jack was a member of the First Church of Sterling, serving on several of its boards, a Past Master of the Sterling Grange, a member of the Leominster/Fitchburg Lodge of Elks, Hiram O. Taylor American Legion Post, and a member of the Chocksett Club. He was an avid golfer, a member of Monoosnock Country Club, loved bird watching, maintaining his yard, woodworking, and cheering on the Red Sox.



He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Marion (Taylor) Woodsmall; his four children, Susan B. Laakso-LeBlanc and her husband, Steven LeBlanc of Ashburnham, John R. Woodsmall, Jr. and his wife, Maura of Sterling, Nancy J. Castagna and her husband, Anthony of East Falmouth and Brenda L. Rotti and her husband, Todd of Sterling; his nine grandchildren, Davin and Justin Laakso, John, Jason and Jeremy Woodsmall, Geno and Joseph Castagna and Leah and Hannah Rotti; his 12 great-grandchildren, Senja and Kainen Laakso, Connor, Jason Jr. “JJ”, Emily, Ryan, Jack, Grace, Samuel, Benjamin and twins, Vivian and Violet Woodsmall; as well as several nieces and nephews. His brother, Raymond and his sister, Elizabeth Barlow predeceased him.



The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at UMASS Memorial Hospital, with a special thank you to Dr. Mike Winton.



Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Jack’s family on Sunday, March 22, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Miles-Sterling Funeral and Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Road (Rte. 12), Sterling. His funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 23, at the First Church of Sterling, 6 Meetinghouse Hill Rd. Burial will be private in the spring at Hillside Cemetery, Sterling. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sterling Fire Department, P.O. Box 21, Sterling MA 01564, First Church, P.O. Box 40, Sterling, MA 01564 or Hiram O. Taylor American Legion Post 189, 32 School Street, Sterling, MA 01564.



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