Ronald Northrop Woodward

Surrounded by his family’s love and laughter, Ronald Northrop Woodward of Marblehead and Barnard, Vermont, died peacefully at home after a long illness. Born January 9, 1935, he was a son of the late Helen Clark and Theodore Francis Woodward. He leaves his wife of 48 years, the former Jean Lampton of New Orleans; a daughter, Allison Woodward MacCormick; sons John Hobson Woodward and Clark Lampton Woodward; five grandchildren: Luke Lampton MacCormick, Sarah Clark MacCormick, Lucy Washington Woodward, Hannah Julia Woodward, and Charlie Alexander Woodward; and a brother, Robert Clark Woodward. He was predeceased by a sister, Jane Woodward Parker.

Ron grew up in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. A graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and Hamilton College, he began a career in financial management at General Electric, Lybrand, Ross Brothers & Montgomery before joining Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, where he worked for 31 years, rising to the positions of CFO, Executive Vice President, Treasurer, and Director of the company before retiring in 1997. During these years he was also involved in publishing industry trade associations.

Ron led a full and rich life, with interests that were wide-ranging and varied. His greatest love was his family, with whom he enjoyed trips to Vermont, cross-country skiing, and cruising on the family sailboat to Maine, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard. A great traveler, he delighted in visits throughout Europe, Scandinavia, and as far as Antarctica and the Galapagos. Annual cross-country skiing trips with a group of friends both in the United States and abroad were a particular highlight. Interested in the venture capital business, he was involved in several start-up companies. He loved wooden boats and antique sports cars. He had a lifelong love of learning and was always open to acquiring new knowledge and skills, in fact building two wooden boats after his retirement.

He was passionate about music, from jazz to classical, a lover of opera who often made the trip to performances by New York’s Metropolitan Opera and traveled to many of the opera houses in Europe. He was a longtime supporter and Governor of Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society, was active in the educational program and offered support and encouragement to members of the orchestra.

Witty and irreverent, with a wry sense of humor, a natural leader endowed with creativity and vision, Ron was sought after not only by friends and family but by many organizations in which he actively participated. He was a member of the Eastern Yacht Club, serving for years as chairman of its History Committee; a member and former chairman of the Whiting Club; a member and former treasurer of the Marblehead Historical Society; a former member of the Barnard Vermont Conservation Commission; and a member of the Board of Directors of RedZone Software LLC.

He will be greatly missed. Services will be private, and a Memorial Concert celebrating his life will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Handel and Haydn Society, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. Arrangements by the Eustis and Cornell Funeral Home, Marblehead.