Selfless service: Former Brownsville, Cameron County and port commissioner dies

John Wood wasn t born in Brownsville, but after more than three decades in public service, he definitely left his mark. That s what people who knew him will tell you. And that he was decent, generous man of few words, though when he spoke you d have been wise to listen. That s what people will say. Wood, who was born in San Antonio in 1946 and grew up in Alice, died Nov. 6 at the age of 79. He moved to Brownsville in 1970 as a manager for Southwestern Bell Telephone the youngest manager in the company s history and never left. In 1972, Wood married Virginia Voltaggio. They would have two sons. Wood enjoyed considerable success as an entrepreneur and real estate broker, entering public service in 1993 as a member of the Brownsville City Commission, and later serving as Cameron County s Precinct 2 commissioner before joining the Brownsville Navigation District board of commissioners, which oversees the Port of Brownsville. He was also active in the community, serving as chairman of t