Gorton Wood Memorial Page

No one loved soccer more than Gorton Wood. He continued to play until
recently, despite various physical set-backs on occasion over the
years. We should all wish to be as active as we get older. For a long
time, he worked in the Chemistry department at Cornell, where his sense of
humor was evident as he dispensed chemicals and supplies from the stockroom
there. Please note below the memorial service Sunday at 2 pm at The
Rink. If you cannot be there, be sure to think of Gorton when you are
playing next and bring to the game his positive spirit.

SLATERVILLE SPRINGS - Gorton Wood, age 84, of 2509 Slaterville Road,
Slaterville Springs, NY died Friday, March 24, 2006, at his residence after
lengthy illness. Born Olin Gorton Wood at Mansfield, PA, on January 21,
1922, he was the only child of the late John Olin and Ursel Landis Wood. He
was graduated from Mansfield High School and moved to California, where he
earned an aviation mechanics certification. Returning home to Mansfield,
PA, he was drafted into the Army and served at Dale Mabry Field as an
airplane mechanic. Gorton was married to the former Meridith Dayen on July
7, 1947, who passed away October 2, 1992. After the war, he attended the
University of Wyoming, graduating with an MS in chemistry. He was a member
of both Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. He pursued
further university studies and received his Masters of Science from
Carnegie Tech. Gorton worked in Pittsburgh for the US Bureau of Mines and
later at Allegheny Ballistics Laboratory in Cumberland, MD, prior to
relocating to Tompkins Co. and being employed at Cornell from 1964-1991.
After retirement, he continued to do consulting work in the instrumentation
field. He was an avid collector of the Saab Automobile and was a member of
the Ham Radio Club of Ithaca, the Jeepster Club and enjoyed playing adult
hockey and soccer into his 80's. An avid sportsman and mechanic, he loved
the comradery of friends with common interests. He was an energetic
supporter of and a believer in the civil liberties provided for in the
United States Constitution.

Survivors include his son, Edward (Hannah) Ashley, Yarmouth, ME; his
daughters, Karen (Ray) Bastian of Cape Coral, FL, Nancy (Henry) Connor of
Owensboro, KY, Marge Goodwin of Harrisburg, PA, and Laura J. (friend,
Chuck) Wood of Wrightsville, PA; grandchildren, Lisa Cotto, Frank (Lori)
Cotto, Zane (Angela) Cotto, Matthew Cotto, JonChristopher (Monica Horton)
Cotto, Kay Ashley, Beth (fiancé, Jed) Ashley, Rebecca (Jason) Connor
Weibel, Megan (Dan) Pierce and Daniel Goodwin; friend and companion, Mary
Lois Tountasakis; and many friends, Charles Rapport, Richard Shaw, Bob
Campbell, Ray Bastian, Dave Orr and Chuck Young to name only a few. Gorton
was predeceased by a grandson, Joshua Cotto; and a lifelong friend, Joe Avery.

Memorial services will be held Sunday, March 26, 2006, at 2 p.m. in "Rick's
Room" at "The Rink," 1767 East Shore Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850. There are no
prior calling hours. Interment will be held privately in Curtis Cemetery,
Danby, NY. Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, are graciously directed
to "The Rink," 1767 East Shore Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850. Perkins Funeral
Home, 55 West Main St., Dryden, NY, assisted the family.
www.perkinsfuneralhome.com