Obituary: Albert Moyer Wood

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Obituary: Albert Moyer Wood

Friday, 22 January 2010 00:00

Albert Moyer Wood, a longtime resident of Port Washington where he was the eldest of an extensive family of artists and designers, died Jan. 8, 2010 in Kennett Square, PA. He was 96.

Known as Moyer, Mr. Wood came east with his four brothers and two sisters from Kingsville, Ontario in 1930, as his parents, Albert and Louis Wood, looked for a new start in the Great Depression. They settled in Port Washington where they soon converted a family woodworking hobby into a business. Albert Wood & Five Sons (Moyer, Gardner, Bertram, Francis and Paul) began refurbishing used furniture and designing and producing fine custom furniture. Following WWII, the firm increasingly turned to church and synagogue interior design. Working from studios on Pleasant Avenue, Moyer and brothers Gardner and Paul created sanctuary interiors furnished with custom-made sculpture, stained glass and tapestry for churches and synagogues from New York to Alabama and Texas. The firm was dissolved in 1991 with Moyer’s retirement.

Moyer was married in 1938 to Elizabeth Smedley, a children’s librarian at the Port Washington Public Library, and they built their house together on Leeds Drive. Betty Wood preceded him in death in 2008.

Moyer loved sailing on Manhasset Bay and ice skating on Leeds Pond. He was an avid tennis player and regularly organized multi-generational family tennis tournaments.

He is survived by his sister, Penelope; a daughter, Anne Kendall of Bristol, RI; three sons, Timothy Wood of Dayton, OH; David Wood of Kensington, MD, and Douglas Wood of Port Washington; 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held March 6 at Kendal-at-Longwood, a Quaker retirement community in Kennett Square, PA. Memorial donations may be made to the American Friends Service Committee, Philadelphia, PA.

News

Five J’s Jewelers Closing

Saturday, 18 May 2013 00:00

Joan Hutchinson’s Five J’s Jewelers will be closing its doors after 34 years in town. Currently at 155 Main Street (located in Mini Mall Shops), Five J’s has been located in different spots around Port such as the Soundview shopping center and four different Main Street locations. Five J’s has lost its lease, but will be here through the end of August. The store will be liquidating inventory of jewelry. Hutchinson’s newest venture will include a web-based business from her home, where she will continue to provide her customers with quality merchandise at wholesale prices. For more information, please email jsjewelers@aol.com or call 516-567-4142.

The Great Gatsby Director At Soundview

Friday, 17 May 2013 00:00

Baz Luhrmann, the internationally acclaimed writer, producer and director of the new 3-D adaptation of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, captivated the invitation-only audience at the Long Island premier of the film last Wednesday night at Soundview Cinemas.

“It’s touching for me to be here in Port Washington,” said Luhrmann, a native Australian. “I grew up in a small town where my father had a cinema for a short time. It’s like inviting people into your lounge room to sit in the dark and experience something together.” Luhrmann took notice of all the care that went into refurbishing the Soundview Theater, telling the guests that there really is so much buzz out there about the reopening.

Sports

“PYA Never Stops…It’s For The Kids”

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

The fact that Port Washington Youth Activities (PYA) is celebrating its 50th year of working with area boys and girls is quite an accomplishment. Ron Henderson, its executive director for the past 20 years, also has a long history with PYA’s Lions Field that extends all the way back to 1958.

“I played in the first games ever held at the field back then when it was the Port Washington Little League,” said Henderson. “That was before the field was renovated.” The renovation, which began in 1999 and forced the PYA to relocate for two years from its Glen Lane site, now features four Little League fields and one major league field, all on pesticide-free, natural grass. During the fall, the fields are converted for lacrosse and football programs.