Obituary of Rev. Bruce Michael Wood

NAUGATUCK- Father Bruce Michael Wood, 80, of Naugatuck, a priest of the Diocese of Amarillo, Texas and a Naugatuck resident, passed away Thursday, June 22, 2017 at the VITAS Hospice unit at St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury.

Bruce Michael Wood was born April 5, 1937, in Waterbury, CT, the son of the late Bruce and Berthe (Winslow) Wood. He graduated from Crosby High School in Waterbury and attended Wagner College in New York and the University of North Carolina.

A convert, he converted to Catholicism upon his Baptism on June 16, 1962. Prior to his ordination to the priesthood, his work experience had been in secondary and college education in the fields of English, Speech and Drama.

In 1978, Wood came to Lubbock, Texas to work in parish ministry and served in parishes and schools there. After discerning a call to the priesthood, he completed seminary training at Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Amarillo on June 7, 1984 by then-Bishop Leroy T. Matthiesen at St. Laurence Cathedral (now St. Laurence Church), Amarillo.

After serving at a number of parishes in the Diocese of Amarillo, Father Wood also served as an Air Force Chaplain in San Antonio and as a priest in a number of parishes throughout Texas, Vermont and Connecticut. Following his retirement, he served as a part time associate at St. Francis of Assisi parish in Naugatuck and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury.

Survivors include two nieces; Linda Waldo and Donna Hadzaga both of Naugatuck. Father was predeceased by a sister Barbara Kevorkian.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday June 26, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, 74 West Main St., Waterbury, with Msgr. John Bevins as celebrant. Family and friends are asked to meet directly at church prior to Mass. Burial will be in new St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Waterbury. There are no calling hours.  The Alderson Funeral Home of Naugatuck, is assisting the family with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent DePaul Mission, P.O. Box 1612, Waterbury, 06721-1612.