Wayne Wood Westcott
December 15, 1944 – April 18, 2026
Wayne Wood Westcott, a man of service, music, and faith, passed away on April 18, 2026. A lifelong resident of the Rochester area, Wayne leaves behind a legacy of devotion to his family, his country and his church.
Early Life and Service
Born in Rochester on December 15, 1944, Wayne was the only child of Wilmer Frank and Mildred Louise (Wood) Westcott Growing up in Charlotte, he attended Rochester City Schools where he balanced athletics and the arts, playing the piano and violin while finding his true competitive spirit on the soccer field.
A dedicated Boy Scout, Wayne achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, a milestone that sparked a lifelong passion for camping and the outdoors. In 1962, at just 17 years old, he joined the National Guard. He often shared stories of his six months at Fort Dix, including the unique experience of camping on a golf course during the Cuban Missile Crisis, standing ready to serve his country.
In retirement Wayne was proud to serve as greeter for the Red Cross at the Perinton Blood Donation Center. His friendliness was greatly appreciated by both donors and staff.
Career and Family
After attending Mitchell College and Rochester Business Institute, Wayne worked for Palmer Fish while in school, then IBM where for 15 years he was the “go-to” for service teams often making midnight runs to the airport to secure critical parts. Through the years Wayne worked for many businesses including CCI and General Railway signal sharpening his skills with emergency parts, inventory control and inside sales. Wayne completed his professional journey in 2008 when he retired from WebSeal.
In 1970 Wayne married GerryAnn Emens. Their union was a perfect harmony of shared interests: they both loved music, camping and their Lutheran faith. As the Wood family traced their Lutheran heritage back to the Reformation, their shared commitment to the church was a cornerstone of their life together. Active members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fairport, Wayne’s powerful voice was a staple of church choirs at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word and Bethlehem Lutheran Church-Fairport for over 60 years.
Wayne and GerryAnn celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary during the pandemic and went on to share a total of 55 years of marriage. Through every season, Wayne remained a hopeful and steadfast fan of the Buffalo Bills, never losing faith that “this was their year.”
Legacy
Wayne is survived by his beloved wife, GerryAnn, his children, Laura (Jimmy) Harman and Cheryl Newton, both of Fairport, and Kurt Westcott of Rochester. He was the proud grandfather of Ryan and Paige Harman and Seth and Vanessa Newton.
Service Information
A Memorial Service will be held on May 8, 2026, at 10:30 AM at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fairport, NY.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to ScoutReach, a fund that assists scouts with financial support for camp, registrations, etc. to assure no scout misses out on great programs and experiences due to inability to pay. Direct donations to
Seneca Waterways Council – ScoutReach
2320 Brighton Henrietta Town Line Road
Rochester, NY 14623
Or on line at ScoutsRoc.org.
8 responses to “Westcott, Wayne Wood”
I will miss him very much he was always making me laugh
He was the first “usher nazi”and I followed in his footsteps with my own team! We sang in choir together and he will be missed,especially by his family and friends! He always made me smile with his sense of humor, and his love of church was always a focus of his and his wife, GerryAnn. We will miss you, Wayne!
So sorry to hear of Wayne’s passing. He was a kind and good coach to me in the choir. I always enjoyed chatting with him. He was certainly dedicated to the church and his family. What more could you ask.
GerryAnn, we are so very sorry to hear of Wayne’s passing. So many cherished memories of Bunko, camping, BLC with you guys. Keeping you and your family in our prayers during this difficult time. Much Love, Barb & Rick
We have known Wayne and GerryAnn since our early days on Lost Feather drive. Wayne would comment on my gardening skills . Spent some time singing with him at BLC. Wayne was real character .GerryAnn, Cheryl , and Kurt sorry for your loss. Connie and Tom Specht
And Laura too.
Sorry
A beautiful legacy..the fruit of a life well lived!
We met Wayne when we moved into the Killdeer Lane house behind their beautiful garden. Always enjoyed our conversations over the fence.
May the Lord who “bore our griefs and carried our sorrows”, whom Wayne faithfully served, bless you with peace.” He is near to the brokenhearted”, Ps 34:18.
Tom and I are so sorry for your loss.
Westcott Family,
I am so very saddened by this news. He will be missed. Gods peace to you.