Wood, Donald J.

WOOD, Donald James - April 7, 1922 - October 11, 2003 California native Donald James Wood died on October 11, 2003. The grandson of two '49er pioneers Don was born on April 7, 1922 to Maude Gardenhire Wood and Ezra Benjamin Wood in Modesto. His brothers Stanley and Lloyd died years ago. Don attended Saint Augustine Grammar School in Oakland and St. Mary's College High School in Berkeley. He then attended St. Mary's College in Moraga where he graduated in 1946 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. His college education was interrupted by service in the United States Navy during 1943 - 1944. While at St. Mary's he excelled in activities that ranged from baseball to debating. He nourished a 60-year love affair with the College through a variety of activities. In 1998 he was named St. Mary's College Alumnus of the Year in recognition of his years of work with the College. He and his wife Helen also funded the Wood Scholarship Fund at St. Mary's College School of Education given to assist those seeking a degree in special education. Together they were awarded The Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology Alemany Award in 1999. Pursuing a life-long passion of learning, he also earned an MBA at Armstrong University, Berkeley in 1954; a Masters in Journalism from the University of California, Berkeley in 1956; a Masters in Theology from the Graduate Theological Union in 1983 and a Ph.D. in Education from Walden University in 1972. Don's professional life blended journalism and academics. He worked at the Oakland Tribune as a Circulation Supervisor from 1941 - 1952. He was then hired as an assistant to the publisher of the San Francisco Call Bulletin, William Randolph Hearst. After his stint with the San Francisco paper Don came back across the Bay to work as Circulation Manager with the Berkeley Gazette for seven years from 1959-1965. When the paper merged with a Richmond daily Don became founding general manager of the newspaper for the diocese of Oakland, The Catholic Voice. He retired from that publication in 1990. During all this time he remained a prolific writer of features and opinion pieces for numerous national publications. His last opinion piece was published in the San Francisco Chronicle three weeks before his death (lamenting the mockery of the recent recall). To stay sharp and intellectually challenged Don sought out the opportunities to teach a variety of courses ranging from history to business, from journalism to philosophy. He taught students at Oakland City College, Armstrong College, Berkeley and Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology. He and his wife of 56 years, Helen Winifred Reimann, often co-taught and were the authors of a textbook, Men: Ideals, Ideals, Issues in 4 volumes. He met his wife Helen during a football game in the heyday of the sport at St. Mary's College where he was a cheerleader and she a student at Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles. They married in San Pedro and settled in Oakland where they raised James, Dennis, Kathleen and Matthew. They survive him with daughters-in-law Cynthia Ahart Wood and Joan Wood as well as grandchildren Nathan, Sarah, and Ruth; Ivan, Trevor, and Meagan; and Alexandra Tchong.