Woodrow Roeback, affectionately known as “Mr. Woody” to generations in Hempstead New York, passed away peacefully on December 9 2025 at age 84 surrounded by family.
Born July 15 1941 in rural South Carolina to sharecropper parents Elias and Clara Roeback, he migrated north in the 1960s seeking opportunity amid the civil rights era. His early years on the family tobacco farm instilled a profound work ethic and community focus that defined his later achievements in the bustling Long Island enclave.
Roeback earned a PhD in counseling psychology from Grand Canyon University after initial studies at South Carolina State University, channeling his education into a multifaceted career blending public service and entrepreneurship.
For nearly two decades he helmed Woody’s Promotions at 80 Main Street crafting custom T shirts buttons and memorabilia that captured local milestones from high school graduations to memorial tributes. His shop served as an informal hub where residents shared stories over coffee fostering bonds in the diverse Hempstead tapestry.
Transitioning from federal roles Roeback spent over 30 years with the Department of Veterans Affairs rising to division chief in vocational rehabilitation and employment where he mentored countless veterans toward self sufficiency. Earlier stints included human resources management at Home Depot and senior career counseling for the U.S. Army alongside adjunct teaching in psychology at Thomas Nelson Community College. His professional ethos emphasized resilience drawing from personal experiences of reinvention after relocating to New York in 1968.
Family anchored Roeback’s world as a devoted husband to Evelyn whom he married in 1970 and father to three children including son Woodrow Anthony III a counselor in California and daughters Marlene and Keisha both educators in Nassau County. Grandchildren often visited the family home on Front Street where holiday barbecues featured his signature Lowcountry shrimp boils blending Southern roots with local flair.
Roeback’s lifestyle reflected balanced simplicity with daily walks through Brier Park nurturing his lifelong hobby of birdwatching and journaling reflections on civil rights icons like Martin Luther King Jr. A baritone in the Hempstead Community Choir he performed at church events uplifting congregations with gospel renditions that echoed his Baptist upbringing. His approachable demeanor made him a neighborhood patriarch always ready with advice or a custom keychain for a child’s achievement.
Funeral arrangements honor Roeback’s community spirit with viewing set for Friday December 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Hempstead Funeral Home followed by a service Saturday December 13 at 11 a.m. at Union Baptist Church on King Street. Burial will occur at Nassau Knolls Cemetery with donations encouraged to the Hempstead Food Bank in lieu of flowers perpetuating his legacy of service and kindness.