Josephine “Jo” Kehoe-Wood
Passed away peacefully at the Leo Center at St. Ann’s Home on January 14, 2026, at age 87.
Predeceased by her husband David Wood, and parents Vincent & Jane Sciortino.
Survived by her sons Eugene (Peggy) Kehoe and Michael (Kathleen) Kehoe; granddaughters Lynette Kehoe and Cassandra (Scott James) Kehoe; great-granddaughter Evangeline Kehoe-James; her husband David’s children Mary Ann Wood, Susan Wood, Kathleen Wood, David Wood, and Ellen Chor; sister Annette (Gary) Bennington; niece Stacie (Troy) Grooters; nephew Todd (Jenn) Bennington; and many more extended family members.
Jo had a long and successful career in education, and finished her career as Superintendent of Schools in East Irondequoit School District.
Calling hours will be held Wednesday, January 21st, 4-7PM at Dierna Funeral Home. Private interment.
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To Jo’s Family:
It’s hard to find the words to express how very much Jo meant to me. I was her secretary both times she was an interim in Hilton, and we became very close. She was, without a doubt, one of the most special people I have ever had the pleasure to know. I always told her “I want to be Jo Kehoe when I grow up.”
God bless her always, and my most sincere condolences to her family.
Betsy
Loved working with her when she was an interim Superintendent in Spencerport. She was very intelligent but also a caring, warm person. I valued her expertise and experience and had great admiration for her. Sincere condolences for your loss.
I am so sorry for the passing of our friend Jo Kehoe. We loved her as our superintendent of EICS for many wonderful years. She gave us teachers a chance to advance ourselves and she listened to us. Jo left a great legacy. RIP hardworking friend….Barbara Quinn
I have may fond memories of Jo . She was my children’s superintendent in East Irondequoit. She was my husband’s favorite boss . They had great talks while he drove her Greece School district. They were friends. Sadly Ed Knaak pasted spring of 2025.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. She will be missed
Such a wonderful teacher and a lovely lady. She was always dedicated and supportive of all her students. Her spirit was bright. I’m so proud that I was lucky enough to be in her class. 🪽
Jo was one of our best leaders in the field of education. In addition to that, she was kind, considerate and compassionate. She will always be fondly remembered.
My sincere condolences. Josephine was an inspiration to so many. Her legacy will never be forgotten and will live on.
Know that many of us share in your profound loss. May you find comfort knowing how much she will continue to be celebrated by generations of East Irondequoit students and families who now pay her lessons forward.
As you know, In 1985, Dr. Josephine Kehoe was hired as the first woman superintendent in Monroe County such an incredible accomplishment especially for the time.
The first time I met her was at the legendary Durand-Eastman School Halloween Parade. My daughter was in first grade. She stunning dressed as the tooth fairy wand and all. A bit reluctant John Masciangelo, from central office, was dressed as her tooth. It was quite a sight!
We were all impressed that she was embracing our traditions.
In those days, East Irondequoit was struggling with defeated budgets, crumbling buildings, pennies in fuse boxes, outdated supplies, etc, but we had a lot of pride and determination. We had staff that put their hearts and souls into delivering the best education they could under difficult circumstances.
Little did we know that she was really our fairy godmother with a magic wand to create a wave of positive energy in our community to turn the tides around. With renewed ideas, focus and vision we started passing budgets. The newly built Irondequoit Irondequoit Mall on East Irondequoit property brought us revenue to fund much needed programming and repairs.
Dr. Kehoe announced her retirement opening day of 1998 “graduating” with the very kindergarteners she started with. That morning at the kick off to the new school year “I Will Survive” serenaded her as she laughed and told us it was her theme song. Truth be told her “survival” was key to East Irondequoit thriving.
After her retirement, she went on to acting superintendent in Hilton, Greece, and wherever needed.
She never forgot her roots, though. She came full circle volunteering at EISCD’s Helendale Road School in Eastridge Class of 1971’s Debbie Northup Merritt’s kindergarten class as their personal “fairy godmother.”
Out of respect, I always called her Dr. Kehoe but she liked being called “Jo.” I never could. That was truly one of her greatest strengths she was just a “regular Jo” with a passion for education. So today, please join me in saying, “Thank you, Jo.” RIP
I want to thank Jo for being there for me back in the early 60s. I was a mixed up teen with some issues I couldn’t deal with. She was kind and supportive, especially about my writing. In spite of a learning disability, I made it through. I went on to spend a long career as a professional seminar instructor and writer – with spell check.
I recently moved back to Rochester and would have loved to thank her in person.
To her family, my deepest condolences for your loss. Blessings for you to hold her in your hearts forever. Thank you for sharing her with us.
Carol Woods Thompson.
Dr. Kehoe headed the English department at Jefferson high school for several years prior to my graduating in 1975. She was very instrumental in my academic and personal growth by recognizing this Street kid’s potential and Setting up independent studies and AP courses for me. She was always very kind, caring and understanding and encouraging. She was my friend and a mentor. I became a better person for knowing her. My sincere condolences to you and your family.
Mrs. Kehoe was my English teacher at John Marshall High in the 60’s. I have very fond memories of her as being a kind and understanding teacher. She was one of my favorites. My sympathies to her family and friends.
I worked with Josephine as her Asst. Superintendent when she was our Interim Superintendent in Spencerport. Josephine was superb leader, a passionate educator and an energetic, forward -thinking administrator. She valued input from faculty, administrators, community and Board members. She was a great role model for all of us. We will remember her.
I remember her well from her time at John Marshall High School……..Great Teacher……God Bless
I’m so sorry for your loss. I fondly remember Dr. Kehoe, as well as my husband’s high school stories of her as his English teacher at John Marshall HS. Al told me that he wasn’t really paying attention to her class one day but was, instead, writing and writing. Jo walked around behind him and noted that he was writing a story of some sort. She stopped him for a second while she realized what he was writing and then told him to continue. After class, she asked him to submit his writing to him and was so impressed by it that she read his story to all her classes as incentive. What a teacher! I also worked under has as superintendent at Eastridge Middle School. I found her friendly, competent, and fair. She will be sorely missed. May you feel her angel wings wrapped around you in peace, comfort and love.
I adored the woman who was Jo Kehoe. I met her when she came to my insurance office sometime in the 1980’s. She presented herself with such poise, dignaty and intelligience. She had undergone an issue with her previous insurance company and was furious about the way they had dealt with her. We talked about insurance and how poorly some companies treated women who were not married. After that first meeting, we each set aside additional time for each appointment – to discuss travel, art, and every other subject that would cross our minds.
Nothing was more exciting for her to talk about than David Wood and nothing was harder to discuss than her loss of David.
Gene and Michael, and of course the rest of your familes, I am so sorry for your loss. I’m glad you had her for so long and I’m sorry that you didn’t have her longer
So sad. Condolences to Jo’s family and friends.
I had the privilege of working with her at the Rochester City School District, as well as her late husband David Wood. We socialized a few times with mutual friends who knew her as Acting Superintendent in the Bloomfield schools.
She was a renowned educator who was warm and gracious.
Her passing is a loss for all who knew her.
To Jo’s Family,
We are saddened by the loss of our dear friend. Jo was amazing in every way–she was warm, funny, gave great advice, was a wonderful mentor who encouraged all of us. We will miss you, Jo, and treasure the 40+ years of happy times together.
Love,
Bonnie and Michael
My brother Mike and Jo became friends since this January as both resided at the Legacy at Cranberry Landing. I think they were companionable Dining Room friends. Mike and I would occasionally stop in to see her when I visited on Sundays and she was ever a gracious hostess, passing around a box of chocolates. I was sort of in awe of her because of her well-lived and successful life as an educator, but she was so down to earth and had so many interests. She and Mike exchanged books (mysteries). I was very impressed by her ceramics collection. Mike surely misses her and I do too. It’s special to get to know someone for the first time in the last months of their lives. I think she was ready, though.
Jo Kehoe was one of my favorite teachers at #41 School. She was a great educator, and no surprise that she raised through the ranks so quickly. I was happy she married Mr. Wood, another teacher at #41, which apparently was a great union. I know she was loved during her tenure at Hilton Schools. My condolences go out to Ellen Chor, who I had the pleasure of working with for a while, and
all the rest of her blended family.
I am deeply saddened to learn that Dr. Jo Kehoe has passed. She had a brilliant administrative career in educational institutions. As East Irondequoit Superintendent of Schools she restored important educational programs and public trust, “rescuing” the district from polarization and chaos, thus bringing the district back to become one of the finest in the county. A brilliant strategist and articulate leader, Jo was also known for her caring attitude and love of fine foods, among other things. I was fortunate to have worked directly under Jo Kehoe as the district’s public relations director. She “rescued” other public school districts during her amazing career. Rest In Peace Jo Kehoe.
RIP, Jo,
A great person, a great educator and a great mentor for me.
Maurice Bell
In the fall of ’74 I student taught at Jefferson Jr. Sr. H.S. when Dr. Kehoe was English Dept. Head. A year later, I interviewed for a teaching position with the principal at East H.S. where Dr. Kehoe was the new Assistant Principal. Several minutes into the interview, Dr. Kehoe rushed by the open office door on her way to her own office. She did a double take, backed up, said “Hello, Todd,” and then hurried away. Moments later, the principal’s phone rang. I was offered the job without being told who was on the phone, but I knew.
50 years, six teaching positions, over 5,000 students, and a few graduate degrees later, I’ll retire this year from the faculty of the University of South Carolina’s Ed.D. Program. I have never forgotten nor under-appreciated how one act, as simple as a phone call, can change a life. Thank you, Jo.
I worked for Jo at EICS she was a great boss she believed in me and gave me a chance when others would not, It was a pleasure to know her. I love that picture of her. My heartfelt condolences.
I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Jo. Jo and I have been friends since 1955 when we both entered the University of Rochester River Campus as the first 100 women to integrate the campus, and to sit beside men in their classrooms. Jo and I were both so excited and proud to be part of this moment in history. We remained close throughout those four years, and both of us chose education as our life-long careers. We both loved children and went into teaching with high hopes of being good teachers, helping all children to enjoy learning. Jo majored in English and Education and I in Foreign Languages. and education. Jo and I bonded like sisters during those four years in the City Girl’s special dorm rooms in the the brand new Women’s Dorm on the Hill. We followed each other’s careers for years and I marvelled at her abilities to adventure into so many diverse positions and do so outstandingly well in all of them. Jo was most certainly a very outstanding educator but equally as outstanding as a human being. She truly advocated throughout her life for students and their needs. Although Jo and I have not kept close contact recently, in our aging years, she will always be in my heart and memories forever. I love you, Jo, and may you rest in peace and know you were loved dearly. My sincerest condolences to her two sons and family.
Your City-Girl, Room-mate, Terry “Alessi” Mathews-DeSant
So sorry to hear of the passing of my cousin. My mom was Teresa Capizzi. She passed away November 1 of last year. my mother absolutely loved. Jojo and I’ll never forget the first time I met her. We all took pictures together. My mother would want me to pay my respects. My grandmother’s name was. Mary Cottone Capizzi. my deepest empathy for your loss.
Josie Denaro Teresa’s daughter