Thomas Gibbs Woodman

AUBURN- Dr. Thomas G. Woodman, Lake Placid’s longtime dentist, passed in the loving embrace of his family on Monday, October 14th in Auburn, Maine where he had been living with his daughter and son-in-law.

Born on December 21, 1930 in Rochester, NY, he moved to Lake Placid in 1960 with his beloved wife Eleanor after serving in the U.S. Navy. They had met at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine; married on June 20, 1953; and raised four children together. He practiced dentistry in Lake Placid until his retirement in 1999.

Tom was deeply involved in the Lake Placid community as an active member of Adirondack Community Church, a member of the Lions, and a volunteer at Uihlein Living Center, the Ecumenical Food Pantry, the 1980 Olympics and many Ironman competitions. He also was an avid sportsman, including skiing into his 80’s at Whiteface (his goal was at least 50 days a year); windsurfing on Mirror Lake and at Kailua Beach on Oahu where he and Eleanor spent every April for 25+ years; golfing at Craig Wood Golf & Country Club; and playing multiple racquet sports.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine and his dentistry degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry in Philadelphia. During his time at Penn, he also worked at a Breyers Ice Cream factory and retained his love of Breyers’ peach ice cream and, later, anybody’s coffee ice cream.

But family always came first and as his grew, he loved telling his repertoire of jokesand singing silly songs to his grand and great grandchildren.

He is survived yb his four children, Thomas L. of Keene, NY, Daniel of Gorham, ME, Cheryl Penney of Auburn, ME and Christopher of College Station, TX; three daughters-in-law, Jeannie Cross, Susan Woodman, and Mary Ann Powell and one son-in-law, Stephen Penney; six grandchildren and their spouses, Elizabeth Woodman Carr (Jacob), Hannah Woodman Unger (Cole) Lily Penney (Javier), Jamie Penney (Jenny); Liz Pruett (Steely Falar); and Jay Pruett; and eight great grandchildren, Eleanor and Everett Carr, Harriet Unger, Emelia Ruales-Penney, Leo and Samuel Penney, and Harper and Henley Pruett-Falar. He also is survived by his sister Nan of Saco, ME.

He was predeceased by his parents and his wife Eleanor in 2012 and his brother Charles of Tucson, AZ in 2023.

A Memorial service will be held in Lake Placid on Saturday, November 9, 2024. Burial will be at North Elba Cemetery. The M.B. Clark Funeral Home in Lake Placid is in charge of arrangements there. Memorial donations may be made to the Adirondack Community Church, 2583 Main Street, Lake Placid, NY 12946. Arrangements by the Fortin & Pinette Group 217 Turner Street, Auburn, ME 207-783-8545. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at thefortingroupauburn.com .