Mark William Woods Jr.

Mark lived his life in service of others: his family as a loving son, brother, husband, and father; his country as an Army combat veteran; the City of New York as an NYPD detective, and his local veteran community in multiple capacities over the years. His loss is one that will be felt deeply by his family, large network of friends and colleagues, and his greater community in Rockland County, NY.

In his work with BRIDGES, Mark planned and ran a schedule of regular walks, book clubs, cooking classes, writing groups, lunches, and trips to various historic battlefields -- all events and experiences designed to foster connections among veterans, and improve relationships between veterans and their families. He knew how important it was to prioritize the unique needs of veterans, young and old, with a focus on mental health and suicide prevention, and his programs engaged over 500 veterans every month. BRIDGES Executive Director Carlos Martinez described Mark as “a beacon of light and hope, touching lives through his compassion and dedication to his fellow man,” and added that “Mark’s memory will be a guiding star for all who knew him.”

Mark previously worked as Deputy Director at Rockland’s Veterans Service Office to advocate for the needs of veterans, and to ensure they obtained the benefits and services they were due.

Mark was named Rockland County’s 2024 Veteran of the Year, an honor befitting a man who had dedicated his life to his fellow veterans, right up until his last day on Earth. He considered this his greatest achievement, as he was chosen by those he served, particularly those Vietnam vets he considered his heroes.

In April 2023, Mark announced his run for a spot on the Clarkstown Town Council where he hoped to work for his larger community. He was elected to the position in November, and he served from January of this year until his passing. He was excited to represent the people of Clarkstown Ward 1, a place he called home for fifteen years, and to help uphold it as the wonderful place he knew and loved. His campaign slogan was “People, Not Politics,” and he lived by that rule, befriending and serving people from all walks of life. “Woods was a larger-than-life figure who always put his community and his country above all else,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, who worked closely with Mark.

Because he could never have too many jobs, Mark also worked concurrently as an adjunct professor at American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service since 2016, helping aspiring funeral director students to gain a deeper understanding of another essential area of community care. He taught classes on the history of funeral service, discussing how different cultures have honored their dead, and the psychology of funeral service, advising his students on how to cope with their working so closely with death.

Born on October 24, 1969 to Mark Sr. and Marie Woods, Mark was raised with his sister Maria alongside their cousins in Brooklyn, New York. He had a childhood full of adventure and he continued to seek adventure into his adult life. He attended college at the Citadel, a military school in South Carolina, where he received a B.A. in Political Science. At the Citadel, he found the structure he needed to thrive, and went right into his army service after his graduation, following in his father’s footsteps.

Mark was a U.S. Army combat veteran, having served from 1992-2007 and attaining the rank of Major. During his tenure in the Army, he was first deployed to Berlin, Germany; then Schweinfurt, Germany, and next to Macedonia as part of a United Nations Peacekeeping Force stationed along the Serbian/Macedonian border. It was during his time in Germany he met Angel Woods, Raymond's mother. He later served in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Army’s primary advisor to the Mayor of Tal Afar and commanding a Civil Affairs Team that worked with local leaders to identify community needs and oversee major infrastructure projects, including construction of schools, medical facilities, water wells and a public library. Between his two times of active service in the Army, Mark began his career in law enforcement as a corrections officer in Kansas, and then an officer for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service in Texas. Mark later joined the New York City Police Department, where he would spend the majority of his professional life, and where he would meet his wife and best friend Jeanne, an NYPD Sergeant. They shared a love of American history, travel and most of all, living a life of curiosity and adventure, and worked to introduce these joys to their children. They also strived to instill in Ray and Maggie the importance of working to serve the greater good and giving back to the world. As Mark's recently inked tattoo said, "Join or Die." He passionately believed in the importance of service.

With the NYPD, Mark spent over twenty years as a police officer and eventually as a detective. He worked in various capacities during his time there, from intelligence to vice enforcement, and later in conjunction with the FBI on the Department’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. It was his time with the Human Trafficking Team, Vice Enforcement Division, that he called his Dream Job, where he had the fulfilling role of investigating and thwarting those involved in human trafficking. He took particular pride in the progressive philosophy of his team to focus punishment on the perpetrators and offer assistance and support to the victims, most of whom were underage and desperately needed help.

Mark could see the twin towers from where he lived in Brooklyn and was watching when the first tower fell on September 11, 2001. He reported to the scene that day, working nonstop on the clean up and recovery for the first 24 hours after the collapses, and ultimately spent countless hours in the aftermath tirelessly supporting that enormous effort.

While Mark has been obsessed with the UFC for the past 10 plus years, he was first an avid Yankees fan, a love instilled in him from birth by his Uncle Joey, who was maybe the greatest fan in the history of Yankees fandom. Mark had a passionate appreciation of (some might say obsession with) Ulysses S. Grant and his work during the Civil War. He even wore a replica uniform at times. Being a voracious reader as well, he had an impressive collection of books, especially ones about Grant and the Civil War. Only a few days before Mark’s death, he was able to visit the cottage where Grant died in 1885. His mother was with him and some of the veterans he worked with on that trip, and she feels honored to have witnessed his fascination in action.

Without a doubt, the most important thing to say about Mark was how he made other people feel. He had a way with words, which he used liberally to uplift those around him. He made people laugh and he touched their hearts with his ability and willingness to express his love, through everything from his personal texts and conversations, to his more public writing and the speeches he gave.

Mark is survived by his wife Jeanne, son Raymond, daughter Margaret “Maggie,” sister Maria Kansy, and his mother, Marie Woods. He was predeceased by his father, Mark Woody Woods, who passed away in November 2023.

Mark will be laid to rest this coming Tuesday, May 28. All events will take part at St. Francis Church, located at 128 Parrott Road, West Nyack.

There will be public viewing from 3pm-6pm, then the service itself from 6pm-7pm. There will be light refreshments from 7-9 downstairs in the parish hall, for anybody who would like to spend more time remembering Mark.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Program, at https://donorbox.org/bridgesrc" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://donorbox.org/bridgesrc (https://donorbox.org/bridgesrc)

Follow these steps to make sure directions are attributed to Mark: If you would like to make a donation in memory of Mark, to a place he loved with his whole heart, please follow the directions and link below. 💙

https://donorbox.org/bridgesrc

1. Enter donation amount

2. Choose "Dwyer" short for the Joseph P Dwyer Veteran Peer Support program

3. Check off the box to make your donation in honor of Mark Woods and enter the information in the section following.

4. Notify Jeanne Woods, email [email protected]