Egremont — Bill Wood died at his home in Egremont on Saturday, September 10, at the age of 85. Born to William Henry Wood of Havana, Cuba and New York, and Maude Williams of Egremont, on April 22, 1937, he went to the South Egremont school, and graduated from the former Searles High School in Great Barrington. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in the class of 1959.
He worked as an executive of the Insurance Company of North America in Hartford for several years before becoming vice president of Edward J. Kernan and Co. in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. In 1977 he brought his family back to live in Egremont, which his mother’s family had loved and called home since the early eighteenth century. A life-long motor sport enthusiast, he became one of the foremost experts of the Austin-Healey 100-S, a limited edition, 1955 British sports car designed and built to be raced at the 24-hour endurance races of Le Mans and Sebring. His extensive car collection drew attention both nationally and internationally, and visitors to the Berkshires’ Austin-Healey mecca were frequent and always welcomed with good-natured hospitality. Ever mindful of his obligation to community, Bill served in the National Guard after college, and for more than a decade as an auxiliary trooper with the Connecticut State Police. He was actively involved in town government in Egremont, serving most recently as the town historian.
Bill is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lynn Humason Wood; two children, William T. Wood of Egremont, and Elisabeth Wood and her husband David Berman, of Egremont and Alexandria, Virginia; and five grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Fay (Stoddard) Wood of Saugerties, N.Y.
A graveside service celebrating the life of William “Bill” Wood Jr. will be held on Sunday, October 16 at 2 p.m. Riverside Cemetery in North Egremont.
Donations in memory of Bill may be made to either the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Egremont Land Trust or The Nature Conservancy directly to the charity or in care of: Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to the family please go to www.finnertyandstevens.com .