Thornton Grant Woodwell

WOODWELL, Thornton Grant Buzz Born to Thornton Lester and Mildred Boyd Woodwell, he was known as Buzz almost his whole life. His early years were spent on Long Island, NY and he soon found out that Roosevelt Field was within bicycling distance. He and his friends were in awe of the variety of aircraft that could be seen there. This became a major influence in his career choice. While still a teenager he moved with his family to Massachusetts. In 1952, after graduating Cum Laude from Tufts, Buzz joined Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, CT as a mechanical design engineer. Those were the days of drafting tables, layouts, white shirts, narrow ties, pocket protectors and slide rules. In the spring of 1954 he met Patricia Omark (Pat) and they married in the fall. During 1976 there was a major re-organization at Pratt & Whitney and Buzz, along with many more, were relocated to the Florida facility. During the fall of 1980, his wife of 26 years, Pat, died at their home in Boca Raton. Three years later he married Sue Paulus who also worked at Pratt & Whitney. Buzz had a BSME from Tufts University and a MSME from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). During his career he was a Registered Professional Engineer in Connecticut and Florida and held three patents relating to aircraft engines. Buzz loved animals and volunteered at humane societies in Boca Raton and Jupiter for many years. Following retirement in 1992, he volunteered at Jupiter Medical Center Outpatient Oncology. He belonged to the Pratt & Whitney Old Eagles and, until recently, the Jupiter Inlet Beach Club. Buzz enjoyed working at Pratt & Whitney, living in Tequesta, his home, reading, walking, bicycle and motorcycle riding, puttering around the house and garage and, at the end of the day, a cold vodka. While on a trip to Panama in 2007, Buzz experienced sudden cardiac arrest and blunt head trauma and would have died if it had not been for the fast and heroic action of another passenger, BJ Preston. BJ, a nurse from Pennsylvania, applied CPR and revived Buzz with only seconds to spare. We are eternally grateful to this Guardian Angel for the extra years she gave Buzz. We would also like to thank doctors Scott Fayne, Kenneth Fuquay, Sheldon Taub, Augustin Vargas, Augusto Villa and Bruce Witta for their contribution to Buzz’s longevity. Buzz is survived by his wife of 41 years, Sue; son Dr. Grant Woodwell of King George, VA; step-son Edward Paulus (Shawn) of Webster, NC; and nieces Cheryl Graham and Lynda Smith of California. He was known as Papa to grandsons, Jackson and Cutter Paulus. He was predeceased by his first wife, Patricia (Omark) Woodwell in 1980 and by his sister, Gayle Graham, in 2024. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home, in Jupiter, FL. A graveside service will be held on Friday, July 12th, at 12:00pm, at Riverside Memorial Park in Tequesta, FL. 19351 SE County Line Road, Tequesta, FL 33469 In lieu of flowers, please tell someone you love them before it’s too late!

Thornton Grant Woodwell

February 25, 1929 - June 30, 2024