Obituary of Theodore "Skip" Woznik

Theodore “Skip” Woznik, a retired Mechanical Engineer and Army Veteran, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2023 surrounded by friends and family. Skip was born to his parents Ersilia and Theodore Woznik in Roxbury in 1937. Skip’s Mom, Ersilia, was later re-married to Hugh Gallagher who treated Skip like his own. 

While in grade school, Skip met his wife to be, on the basketball court. Skip was shooting basketballs when one of his shots missed and hit Marie. Skip went over to apologize and was immediately smitten. The two dated through school and were married when Skip returned from the Army in 1960.

Skip served in the 82^nd Airborne of the US Army in the 1950s. He was a Paratrooper and Jumpmaster, soloing over 70 jumps. The family jokes that no sane man should jump out of a functioning aircraft, but Skip loved the thrill of it.

After Skip served, he attended Wentworth University for Engineering at night while working full time at MIT.  He joined various companies in the field of Mechanical Engineering. Skip’s experience in engineering spanned many years and he saw many changes from computers the size of a bedroom to the technology we see today. While working at MIT he worked on projects ranging from working with the robotics team to teach a robot how to pick up a ball to helping design the guidance system for the  Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Skip went on to start his own company, Linear Corporation, in his garage before moving the business to its home in Malden.

Skip cherished time with family and friends. He looked forward to having everyone over to his house for holidays, cookouts and gatherings. Skip took immense pride in his home, which was fitting because he and Marie built it themselves in 1967. Twelve years after they built it, they put an addition on and put a pool in. Skip took incredible care of his pool. Everyone knew that no pool was as clean as Skippy’s pool. People joked that the water was so clean that you could drink it. His care for the house didn’t stop there. Skip would get on hands and knees to tend to the edging of the grass with special scissors. This was all on top of more routine care such as raking leaves, trimming bushes, mulching, tending to flowers, gardening,  and much, much, more.

When you went over to Skip and Marie’s home, you were immediately considered family. Everyone was welcome at the table, and Skip loved his audience.  While he was reserved  by nature, his storytelling was legendary. He could hold court at the kitchen table and tell stories that would keep everyone entertained. People gravitated to him similar to  a great street performer, where once Skip started a story, more and more people would be drawn in to see where it would go next. He also loved to cook. Whether it was grilling outside during a cookout, or cooking shrimp scampi for the nurses at the rehab center while he was there as an in-patient, he knew that food was a language of love.

Skip was selfless, and never needed credit or validation for doing the right thing. If you asked his opinion, you were going to get it. If he didn’t like something, he said so, but never in a condescending way.

Skip loved his children and cherished his grandchildren.  They in turn cherished him.

Skip was the loving husband of the late Marie Woznik (Pedulla). He was the beloved father of Brian Woznik and his wife Danielle of Windham, NH, and Kelly and her husband Christopher Chester of Lowell, MA. Skip was the adored grandfather of Ethan, Mia, and T.J. of Windham, NH. He was the dear brother to Michael Gallagher and his wife Meghan of Medford, Elizabeth Meyn and her husband Gary of Plymouth, and Peter Gallagher and his wife Linda of Lowell. Skip is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial visitation for Skip will take place on Tuesday, March 28, from 4 to 7 PM at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home,43 Winn Street,  Burlington, MA 01803. A Funeral Mass for Skip will be held at St. Agnes Church, 32 Medford Street, Arlington, MA 02474 on Wednesday, March 29 at 11:30 AM. Services will conclude with an internment at Woodlawn Cemetery, 302 Elm Street, Everett.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Skip’s name may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

For online guestbook, video tribute and service information, please visit www.sullivanfuneralhome.net