Richard Wood Obituary

Wood
Richard E. Wood
November 16, 1927
December 11, 2022

Richard Eugene Wood (Dick) was born in East Orange, New Jersey, to Louise Caroline Gugelman and Willis Eugene Wood. At the age of 95, he died peacefully at home in Monument, Co, on December 11, 2022. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 66 years, Laila Z Wood, and his brother Frederick. Left to cherish his memory are his sister, Carolyn Meyers, daughter Randi (Scott), son Dana (Jennie), daughter Mia (Steve), son Stian (Pam), daughter Kaia (Roy), son Jarle (Mary), fourteen grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren.
Following three years in the Navy, Dick married Laila, the love of his life, in 1950. In the years that followed, Dick earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion and philosophy at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa, and a Master of Arts degree in personnel administration at Columbia University. He worked at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY; Denver University in Denver, Co; and Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Co. He served as Director of Admissions at Colorado College from 1961-1991. Known to several decades of CC alumni as "the man who made it all possible," Dick received the Colorado College Riley Award in 1997 for his significant role in creating the Colorado College of the latter part of the 20th century. He combined a demand for excellence with vision and compassion to build an eclectic student body. Most alumni who were admitted during Dick's tenure have a favorite Dick Wood story and many remember him as "the man who changed my life." Dick was named Executive of the Year in 1969 by the National Secretaries Association (International). Over his career, he served as President of the Rocky Mountain Association of College Admission Counselors; on the executive Board of the Colorado Council on High School-College Relations; on the Boettcher Foundation Selection Committee; as Chairman of the Selection Committee of the Officers Wives Club at the Air Force Academy; as President of the Friends of the Security Public Library, and as President of the South Security PTO. Active in community affairs, he worked with numerous community organizations including Boy Scouts of America and the Martin Luther King Memorial Fund.
Dick had a lifelong love of sailing and sailed on the Chesapeake Bay as well as nearly every reservoir in Colorado. Children and grandchildren enjoyed many hours with their father and grandfather on his beautiful boat, The Laila Zee. Dick and Laila loved sailing together and anchoring under the stars at Pueblo Reservoir. Dick often played the piano under the affectionate nickname of "Woody," and in his later years developed a passion for playing the recorder. At the time of his death, he had written and/or arranged over 200 songs, all of which he shared with the greater Colorado recorder community. He was dearly loved by recorder players statewide. Dick was also a talented woodworker, building timeless handcrafted pieces of furniture for family members.
Dick's greatest gift was his warm and loving nature as well as his never-ending sense of humor. He will be missed by so many and remembered always.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Pikes Peak Hospice in Colorado Springs.