John Martin Woznick, 92, of Bloomville, passed away in his home on May 21, 2024.
Son of John Patrick Woznick and Wilhelmina Augusta Moseman, he was born on July 2, 1931. John was the second of four children, including his older sister Virginia Williams (deceased), younger sister Marie Norton, and younger brother Herb Woznick (deceased).
His adolescent years were spent working alongside his uncle Herb, learning trade skills that he, his family, his friends, and neighbors would come to rely on for more than a half a century. He had several other odd jobs including setting pins at the local bowling alley while also begrudgingly attending school. On the heels of World War II, he decided at the young age of 17 to join the Navy with his mother’s permission. He served four years in the Navy, 1948-1952, attending electricians mate school in Chicago, Illinois and eventually being stationed in Treasure Island, California, on the USS Kearsarge where her steam boilers were in his care.
After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy, he, and Theresa Marie (Terri or Marie) McGowan were married and began their family on Cedar Street, Seaford, with the birth of their twins, daughter Kathy and son David. Soon after, their third child, daughter Margaret arrived followed a few years later by their fourth child, daughter, Maryann.
John chose a career in plumbing, working for the New York State Park Commission out of Babylon. He and his team were responsible for the plumbing in all the state parks along the Long Island coast. He is credited with inventing the first handicapped water fountain used in New York state parks, receiving recognition from then Lieutenant Governor Mario Cuomo.
John was an avid sportsman and spent some of his free time hunting in the Catskills. This is where he found his forever “ace in the hole” on the top of a mountain in Bloomville. He and Marie (Terri) made the bold choice to relocate their family. Traveling “upstate” each weekend with supplies, together the family built their future home. Soon after, their fifth and final child, daughter, Patricia was born.
For 14 years, John continued the commute to Long Island for work returning home to Bloomville each Friday night with a toothpick in his mouth and a week’s haul of groceries. As he reached the top of Palmer Hill, the “Tinman,” his CB handle, signaled to his family with a “How ‘bout you Tin-man Base?” that he would arrive home within the hour, his kids waiting at the door to help unload the groceries. As Sunday afternoons crept in, it was time to grab his lunch box and coffee filled thermos for the trip back downstate. Reaching the corner at the end of the road, he would signal “I Love You” with the tap of his brakes three times and a wave of his sun-tanned arm out the window to tell Marie and the kids goodbye for another week. The “Tinman” eventually retired to the hills and never looked back.
John was a longtime member of the Bloomville Fire department, serving as a fireman and fire commissioner. He supported the community and his family with his jack of all trade skill set, teaching all who were interested in how to get things done “the John Woznick way.”
In his retirement years he fostered the do-it-yourself drive in his children, building their family homes alongside them. John and Marie, until her passing, enjoyed watching their family expand. Grandchildren Lindsay (Margaret and Bob Coager), Ian (Kathy and Wayne Tompkins) Matt, Zach, Conor (David Woznick and Donna Meadowcroft), JB, Nora, Patrick (Patrica Woznick and Sean Trimbell); step grandchildren Jackie, Christine and Daniel (Maryann and Dan Owens); great grandchildren Addy and Finn (Lindsay and Ben), Nyomi (Zach & Emma), Charleigh and Ellie (Matt and Megan); step great grandchildren Aidan and Sasha (Jackie) Ava and Gia (Christine), Mila (Daniel and Krista).
John was lucky to find love and close friendship again in his life with Dawn Bals.
John was a pure reflection of the silent generation, there was no need for words when a little elbow grease and ingenuity would get things done. He will be missed by all those who were fortunate enough to know him.
We will celebrate the life of John M. Woznick with a graveside service with military honors in Riverside Cemetery, Bloomville, at 12:30 p.m. Friday, May 31. A luncheon will follow at the Bloomville Firehouse at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers send donations to the Bloomville Fire Department, 243 Scotch Hill Road, Bloomville NY 13739, or Bloomville Pride, 191 Scotch Hill Road Bloomville, NY 13739.
Visit www.macarthurfh.com to share a condolence with John’s family.
