Rod Wood dead at 81 – Beloved NewsChannel 9 WSYR anchor from Syracuse passes away after brief illness
VETERAN anchor Rod Wood has died at the age of 81 after reporting the news for over half a century. The beloved news anchor was surrounded by his five children when he died after a brief illness on Saturday, December 11, just a day after celebrating his 81 birthday. Wood, an anchor for NewsChannel 9 […]
VETERAN anchor Rod Wood has died at the age of 81 after reporting the news for over half a century.
The beloved news anchor was surrounded by his five children when he died after a brief illness on Saturday, December 11, just a day after celebrating his 81 birthday.
Wood, an anchor for NewsChannel 9 in Syracuse for well over 55 years, had retired in early November 2020, but was still a well-known presence to the community.
STARTED IN RADIO
Born in Central New York, Wood, real name Roderic Woodruff Groat, was beloved by both viewers and journalists covering news in his native Syracuse.
Wood got his start as a kid publishing in the local newspaper while still in elementary school before starring in a production of Pinocchio in high school.
In 1960, Wood served as a military officer for the US Army for three years before joining WOLF Radio in Syracuse.
It was only a year later when both his broadcasting work and his voice landed him a broadcasting news job at WNDR Radio.
In 1967, he then moved from WNDR to WHEN to become the station’s morning news anchor and then news director in 1974.
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Two years later, he became the news anchor for WIXT and spent over 55 years covering Central New York news.
BELOVED NEWS ANCHOR
Wood, who was widely lauded for his work, was honored numerous times by the Associated Press and other news organizations, as well as served as the president of the Syracuse Press Club in 1976.
He and long-time co-anchor Carrie Lazarus were named to the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2011.
Lazarus, who went on to share over 30 years on the silver screen with Wood and made the duo one of the longest-running anchor teams on television, constantly remarked what a pleasure it was to work with Wood.
“How lucky we all were to have Rod’s experience, knowledge and wonderful sense of humor,” Lazarus said of Wood.
“But as the person who sat next to Rod for 32 years, I was the luckiest! Rod was my mentor and my rock and I will cherish our friendship always,” Lazarus added.
‘YOU HAD A FRIEND IN ROD’
His family released a statement following his death.
“We are beyond sad to report that our beloved father Rod passed away this past Sunday evening. He was surrounded by his children when God called him home,” the statement read.
“On the day prior, he had turned 81. Just a few short weeks ago, he was diagnosed with an inoperable and aggressive cancer. He fought very hard but was unable to overcome it.”
“A native son, he loved Syracuse and Central New York above all other places. Nothing brought him more joy than serving and delivering the news to our community. His pride in Syracuse and its rich history, past and present, was unceasing.”
“If you were a Central New Yorker, you had a friend in Rod Wood. And we were fortunate to call him ‘Dad’. Thank you for all the love and support you showed him from the beginning of his career in 1963. We will miss him beyond measure!”
The statement was signed by “Rod’s Kids, The Groat Family: John, Chris, Liz, Becky, and Priscilla.”
