Elise “Woody” Irving Tucker

Elise Ellwood "Woody" Irving Tucker, 84, of Cambridge, MA, Fairfield, CT and Sewickley, PA, passed away peacefully on May 3, 2025, in the Village House Nursing Home, Newport, RI.

Born in Boston, MA, Woody was the daughter of the late Frederick C. Irving Jr. and Elise (Keeney) Irving and graduated from Dana Hall School and Connecticut College. Woody also received a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and for many years was a successful artist, interior designer, and small business owner in the Boston area.

A painter primarily, as well as ceramic and fiber artist, Woody had a unique way of seeing the world - family and friends alike found her boundless appreciation for color and form, as well as her ability to capture the beauty of the world around us, to be inspirational. They will remember Woody for her charm, her generosity, her respect for all things artistic and visual, her enjoyment of reading and good conversation, and her fierce love for her family. Woody took particular joy in her grandchildren Nicholas, Geneva, Alexander, Lily, Matthew, Hannah, and Josephine, who brought much love and laughter into her life.

Woody is survived by her children; Elise Toland and her husband Andrew Toland of Middletown, RI; Rebecca Tucker and her husband Scott Bauer of Colorado Springs, CO; and Benjamin Tucker and his wife Emilie Mittel Tucker, of Big Sky, MT, as well as sisters Cynthia Voigt of Deer Isle, ME and Molly Hartman of Bosque Farms, NM and brothers Frederick C. Irving III of Cheshire, CT and Andrew Irving of Denver, CO.

Services for Woody will be held privately. Donations in her memory may be made to The Ellwood House Museum (IL) at https://www.ellwoodhouse.org/donate or to the Massachusetts College of Art at https://massart.edu/giving/.