The Director of Minocqua's Campanile Center of the Arts has died.
Woody Woodruff passed away Thursday morning at the age of 58.
Joseph “Woody” Woodruff is believed to have suffered an apparent heart attack early Thursday. Friends say it happened at his home in Minocqua, during his regular 4:30 a.m exercise routine.
Woodruff was well-known in the community as a business owner and Executive Director for the Campanile Center for the Arts.
Organization Board President Laurie Timm says she worked closely with Woodruff over the years. She says Woodruff was actively involved in all levels of the arts center's operations.
“Very driven – overdriven!," Timm said. "Yeah, he was very focused, very driven, and just didn't stop”
In addition to booking artists for Campanile's entertainment programming and constantly scouting for new performer talent, Timm says Woodruff worked tirelessly to help the nonprofit cut down on costs.
“He did everything," she said. "He was the janitor because he tried to save us money, he'd clip coupons, he did everything.”
Timm says Woodruff attended every performance and played a large role in making guests feel welcome...even cooking homemade meals for performers in the Campanile's kitchen.
“I can verify and say that he has sworn to me," she described, "that every single performer that has walked through our door has said please let us come back, because they loved the atmosphere, they loved the reception that they got in addition to the audience.”
Timm says the center will be scrambling to fill the gap that Woodruff's death has left behind, and says the Campanile will continue its commitment to bringing a wide variety of high quality arts programming to the Northwoods.
