Mr. Robert M. Rood

Robert Mackey Rood 1913 - 2018 Robert (Bob) Rood of Pittsfield, MA, died peacefully Friday evening, January 19, at Sugar Hill Mansion, Dalton, MA, of natural causes, attended by Hospice and family. Born May 15, 1913 to Charles and Alice (Ekern) Rood in Seattle, Washington, his father died of tuberculosis when Bob was 13 months old. His mother, a graduate of U. of WI in 1903, returned to Madison, Wisconsin, as a teacher and later, elementary school principal. Early on, Bob demonstrated his aptitude for technical invention, equipping an elaborate metal workshop and photography darkroom in their apartment's basement with money from his paper route and photography. At age 15, he invented and produced the first wireless control-led sub-chaser. Bob graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1934. He earned a Metallurgical Engineering degree at Carnegie Tech in 1941. He was employed by General Electric during WWII, from 1941 until his retirement in 1977. In 1945, he moved to Pittsfield with the late Florence Anderson, whom he wed on November 3, 1945. He leaves behind four children, Margaret (husband, Charles) Wichmann of Lenox, Saira Austin of Gloucester, Howard (wife, Joyce) Rood of Pittsfield, and Florence Rood of Stamford, CT. He is blessed with four grandchildren, Mark (wife, Tina) Wichmann of Chicago, IL, Matthew Wichmann of Salinas, CA, Jeffrey (wife, Vanessa) Rood of Los Angeles, CA, and Cassandra Rood, also of Los Angeles. He leaves behind four great grandchildren, Angelica, Julia, Vincent and the newest, Delaney, born December 9, 2016, whom he had the pleasure of meeting just last week. Known as "Mr. Fixit" by family, friends, and church, Bob brought his mechanical skills everywhere. He is perhaps best known locally for restoring the 195 year-old Tower clock in First Congregational Church on Park Square in 1979 and again in 1991. Its original mechanical innards are part of the permanent collection of the Berkshire Museum. Bob was a member of First Congregational Church, serving as teacher and on committees. He also volunteered as a driver for the Red Cross, taking patients to Boston and elsewhere. Bob Rood is best described as a true gentleman. Dedicated and loyal to family and friends, he enriched all with his love for music, poetry and fascination with all things mechanical. This curiosity and delight were infectious to all fortunate to know him. He will be missed. FUNRAL NOTICE- memorial service will be held Friday, January 26, 2017 at 7PM at Wellington Funeral Home on 220 East St. in Pittsfield. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to his beloved home for the last three years, Sugar Hill Mansion, 45 Main St, Dalton, MA, 01226, or to HospiceCare in the Berkshires, 877 South Street, Suite 1W, Pittsfield, MA, 01201. To share a memory or condolence with the family, you may also visit www.wellingtonfuneralhome.com .

Mr. Robert M. Rood

May 15, 1913 - January 19, 2018