Gordon Wood

East Lansing

Gordy, loving husband and father, brother, uncle, colleague and friend departed this life

peacefully at Hospice of Lansing on May 18 after a 2 ½ courageous struggle with brain

cancer. Gordy was born on September 20, 1937 in Dunbar, Wisconsin to John and Vera

(Standiford) Wood. The sixth of eight children he spent his childhood in Southern

Wisconsin and Northern Illinois and graduated from Alden-Hebron Community

Consolidated High School, a class of approximately 25 students, in 1955. Following high

school, he joined the army and the USATC Infantry at Ft. Jackson, SC for active duty

training (6 months); he continued as a reservist until his honorable discharge in 1963.

In 1957 he enrolled at Northern Illinois University (NIU) where he majored in

mathematics and minored in psychology and received a Bachelor of Science in

Education in 1961 and a Master of Arts in psychology in 1963. He continued his

education at Northwestern University (NU), Evanston, Illinois and was awarded a Doctor

of Philosophy in 1966. Upon graduation he accepted a position as an Assistant Professor

in the Department of Psychology at Michigan State University (MSU) and continued

there until his retirement as Professor Emeritus in 2002.

During his tenure at MSU he continued to demonstrate his scholarly abilities. He

conducted research in verbal learning, became a member of GUV, was recognized by the

G. Stanley Hall Lecture Series, published numerous studies in psychology research

journals, published three text books, and taught in both the undergraduate and graduate

programs. He particularly enjoyed teaching the introductory psychology courses of 400-

600 students, as well as undergraduate and graduate courses in cognitive psychology and

psychological research.

In 1979, the faculty of the Department of Psychology at MSU selected him as Acting

Chairperson and in 1980 this position was changed to Chairperson. He served in this

capacity with the continued support of the faculty until he resigned this position in 2000.

At the time he returned to full time teaching and then retired in 2002. This was the

longest tenure of a chairperson in the department’s history.

Gordy is survived by his wife of 47 years, Joan Elizabeth (Sitz) Wood, their daughter,

Dana Wood, her husband, Andrew Campbell, and their son, Aiden. He is also survived

by his sister, Vivian Sommer (Robert) of Delavan, WI; his brother Navy Captain Allen Wood

of Arlington, VA; his brother Douglas Wood of San Mateo, CA and numerous

nieces and nephews and their families. Gordy was a man of many interests and talents;

he especially enjoyed reading, golf, gambling and investing.

Gordy’s family thanks all the wonderful health care providers at Northwestern University

Hospital and Hospice of Lansing who have cared for him during the past months. Those

desiring may make contributions in Gordy’s name to the Hospice of Lansing Stoneleigh

Residence, 3411 Stoneleigh, Lansing, MI 48910 or Smile Train, PO Box 96246, Washington, DC

20090-6426.

Gordy will be greatly missed by family, colleagues and friends and remembered for his

many kindnesses to others during his lifetime. A celebration of Gordy’s life be held in

late June; interment will be at the West Chicago Cemetery, West Chicago, IL.

The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, East Lansing. On line

condolences may be made at www.gorslineruncimaneastlansing.com.