Doug Wood
It is with deep sadness we announce the passing of Howell Douglas Wood, known to all as Doug, on December 28, 2024, in Santa Barbara, California. Doug was born on March 31, 1932, in Los Angeles, California to Lillian and Henry Wood. His life was marked by a passion for learning, creativity, celebration and connection.
He grew up in Lynwood and Compton, California and attended Compton Junior College before being drafted into the U. S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Stationed in Okinawa, he served honorably in the Military Police Corps. Upon his return home, Doug attended Long Beach State University on the G.I. Bill. While at Long Beach, he became a member of first mainland outrigger canoe team to paddle in the Moloka’i Hoe race from Moloka’i to Oahu.
Upon graduating, he began his career as an English and drama teacher at Laguna Beach High School. Doug later took his teaching talents overseas to Bitburg Air Base in Germany where he continued to share his enthusiasm for language and literature with his high school students. While there, he founded a theatre group and a TV production company called, “Youth Speaks”, showcasing not only his love for the arts but also his remarkable ability to bring people together through shared creative endeavors.
Upon returning to the United States, Doug continued to pursue his passion for the theater starring as Littlechap in Anthony Newley’s Stop the World: I Want to Get Off at the Laguna Beach Playhouse and the Pasadena Playhouse.
Doug’s talent for communication and performance extended beyond the stage and into the business world when he took a job as a stockbroker with Goodbody & Co. He would eventually become a wholesaler for Commonwealth Funds and later the National Sales Manager for Drexel & Company in New York in 1972. During this period, he developed a motivational presentation entitled, “The Four Bones”, a precursor to a modern-day TED Talk, which he shared all over the world.
In 1974, he became the National Sales Manager for Massachusetts Financial Services of Boston before returning to New York in 1982 to start Integrated Capital Services, a subsidiary of Integrated Resources. In 1986, Doug created his career-defining role, when he and A. Scott Logan co-founded Wood Logan Associates, a mutual fund and variable annuity distribution company that became the bellwether of the industry. The company was acquired by Manulife of Toronto, Canada in 1999. Doug remained on as Chairman until his retirement in December 2011.
He will be remembered most, not for his success on the financial services stage, rather for the care and guidance he provided for his colleagues and employees. He knew the names and life stories of everyone from the mailroom to the boardroom. His office door was always open.
In addition to his success in business, Doug derived great joy from his philanthropic activities, especially his roles as president of the Lobero Theater Foundation in Santa Barbara and as a director and chairman of the Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County chapter.
A man of diverse interests and refined taste, Doug had an appreciation for craftsmanship and beauty. His passion for collecting cars, art and wine brought him immense joy and allowed him to connect with others who shared his enthusiasm. In 2003, 2004 and 2007 Doug drove his Zagato-designed 1956 Alfa Romeo 1900 SS Coupe in the historic Mille Miglia open road race in Italy.
Above all else, Doug cherished his family. He was preceded in death by his son, Dennis. He is survived by his wife, Linda; his children; Debbi (Miles), Dara, Gary (Brad), Erin, Blake and Colby (Carolina); his grandchildren; Chad (Valerie), Michelle (Todd), Brynn, Gus and Delfina; and his great grandchildren: Riley and Campbell. He is also survived by his brother Don (Debbie) and sisters-in-law Deborah (Tom) and Cheryl; his nieces, Alison (James), Paige and Meagan (Javier) and nephews Eric, and Tommy (Janette); grandnieces Rebecca (Arnie), Chloe, Emery, and Rosalie, and grandnephews Kurtis (Alicia), Lance (Kaitilyn) and Cameron; and great grandnieces, Adelaide, and Maisie.
Doug’s life was defined by the bonds he built through mentorship and inspiration. Family members, friends, colleagues and countless others were positively affected by his warmth, joy, humor and generosity of spirit. Throughout his life, people too numerous to mention became lifelong friends and his chosen family.
May Doug’s memory bring comfort to those who loved him and inspire them to carry forward the values he held dear.
In lieu of flowers please contribute to Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County (sbhabitat.org) or The Lobero Theatre Foundation (Lobero.org) .