Obituary of John Denison Wood

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. John Wood on October 30, 2004 . During his life he achieved many honours and accolades in the realm of academics, athletics, business and philanthropy. His life was greatly affected at age 65 when he was diagnosed with Lewy Body Parkinson’s Disease. John will be lovingly remembered by his daughter Dr. Donna Wood; son-in-law Brian Krausert; grandchildren, Sam, Conrad, Kevin, and Jennifer; his brother Desmond Wood; sisters-in-law Shirley Wood and Margaret Southern; brother-in-law Ron Southern; and nieces and nephews, Jeffrey, Carolyn, Nancy, Linda, Alyson, Thomas, Heather, and Michelle; as well as numerous other family members and friends. John was predeceased by his father and mother, Ernest (1962) and Ellen (2004); and by his beloved wife of fifty one years, Christena Wood, just thirty two days before his passing. As a child, John grew up in northwest Calgary and graduated from Crescent Heights High School. His achievements, academically were: at the age of sixteen years, John received an Athlone Fellowship to attend the University of British Columbia in Engineering Mechanics. He continued his education at Stanford, completing his PhD in Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. He wrote a number of engineering papers on structural dynamics research and was a member of several technical societies. He was elected a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (F.C.A.E.) in 1991. He began his business career in California working for TRW. In 1963, John founded his own company Mechanics Research Inc., and was responsible for its entire operation as a consulting engineering firm involved in structural dynamics research in the missile, aerospace, and oil industries, which later became a subsidiary of ATCO Ltd. and Dr. Wood became Senior Vice-President, Engineering and Research for ATCO. John and his family returned to Calgary in 1965. John worked in many capacities at ATCO, culminating in his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Utilities Ltd. in 1984 and President and Chief Operating Officer, ATCO Ltd. in 1994. He also contributed greatly as a Board Member on many of the ATCO Group of Companies. Dr. Wood retired in 1996 after thirty-three years of dedicated service. Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Park Memorial Chapel (5008 Elbow Drive S.W.) on Thursday, November 4, 2004 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Park Memorial Chapel (5008 Elbow Drive S.W.) on Friday, November 5, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the University of Calgary, directed to the Wood Professorship in Medicine, mailed to The Development Office, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Telephone: (403) 220-6906. In living memory of John Wood, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W., CALGARY, TELEPHONE: (403) 243-8200.