Mr. James Lee Woodward

James “Blackie” Woodward, 73, of Sarasota, FL passed away on September 29, 2016. He was born in Union Lake Village, Michigan and graduated from Waterford Township High School in 1960. He enlisted in the US Navy and went through Electronics Technician A school at Great Lakes NTC, then special ECM school in Dam Neck, VA. He served aboard the USS Power DD839, home port of Mayport, FL. Besides operating along the Atlantic coast they spent the summer of ‘62 in Key West shepherding refugees fleeing Cuba after the Castro takeover. They then made a 7 month Mediterranean cruise, with a side trip through the Suez Canal to operate in the Indian Ocean as far as Colombo, Ceylon. Jim moved to New York City after separation from the Navy in 1964. He was employed by Olivetti-Underwood and after completing school at the factory in Hartford, CT was assigned to the San Francisco branch with temporary duties in Los Angeles. He returned to Michigan to work for an Olivetti dealer and became enamored with flight. He acquired a commercial pilot’s license, rated for multi engine and instrument flight, as well as certified as instructor for both aircraft and instrument flight. He accrued 3500hrs of pilot in command flight time. Jim relocated to Sarasota in 1972 to go into an automobile air conditioning business with Gary Ellis (now of Venice). They sold AAA Auto Air in 1978. By then he had acquired a USCG Captain’s license and began freelance piloting and delivering yachts around Florida. He was hired by Hirsh Sailing Yachts of Bradenton to fly their Cherokee Six and manage their fleet of 10 charter yachts in Sarasota. That job grew to 60+ yachts in Sarasota, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Marsh Harbor Bahamas, and St. Thomas USVI with satellite ports in Punta Gorda and Key West. Hirsh sold the Charter business in 1985 and Jim started his own company to maintain and do mechanical repairs on yachts. He was joined in that endeavor by his wife Sylvia who took care of all cosmetics. They said goodbye to their last client in January of 2015. He is grateful for 107 years spent catering to 7 very special cats. He is survived by his wife Sylvia, Zeke and daughters, Elena Rhoades of Venice and Sabrina Fern of Safety Harbor and his best friend, Woody Hillman of Nokomis. Special thanks to Dr. Robert Carey who snatched him from death’s door in November of 2006. Blackie requests you all to quit smoking. Graveside services at Sarasota National Cemetery will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 at 1:00 p.m with military honors provided by the U.S. Navy.