Godfrey Wood

Godfrey was born on July 16, 1941, to Sidney Burr Beardsley Wood II and Edith Godfrey Betts.He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Karen Rajotte Wood; his daughters and their husbands, Whitney Wood Bylin and Eric Bylin of Palm Beach, FL, and Amanda Wood Bratun and Zach Bratun-Glennon of San Francisco, CA. He is also survived by his five grandchildren: Alexander Wood Bylin, John Pillsbury Bylin, Teague Gray Bratun, Kyra Deborah Bratun, and Flora Gale Wood, daughter of his late son Sidney. He also leaves behind three step-children and six step-grandchildren whom he loved dearly.

He is predeceased by his parents, and experienced three sudden and unexpected losses: his brother, Sidney Wood III, at age 22; his second wife, Deborah Gray Wood, at age 47; and his son, Sidney Gray Wood, at age 38. His life was defined by a remarkable resilience in the face of these losses, yet he was known for his sense of humor, a mischievous spirit, a tireless commitment to his family and community, and a lifelong passion for hockey.

While his father was a Wimbledon champion and his brother followed in their father’s footsteps as the #1 tennis player at Yale, Godfrey’s heart belonged to hockey.

A legendary goalie at Harvard, his stats rank among the top in NCAA Division I history for both lowest goals-against average and highest save percentage. His talent led him to the threshold of the 1964 Olympics and professional stints as a backup goaltender for the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings.

Off the ice, Godfrey was a master at bringing people together. He didn’t just build teams; he built communities. He was a founding partner of the New England Whalers (now the Carolina Hurricanes) and owner of the Nashville Knights. In 1993, he moved to Maine to start the Portland Pirates, winning the Calder Cup and turning hockey games into beloved community events. Whether he was fundraising to launch and operate a new hockey franchise or a new restaurant franchise, or leading a plan to found the nonprofit Family Ice Center, Godfrey had a unique gift for bringing people together to create joyful experiences for his community.

His career was fueled by a boundless curiosity, spanning roles from Latin teacher and private pilot to stockbroker and real estate developer. He served 15 years as President and CEO of the Greater Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce and 8 years leading Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland. Even at 80, he refused to slow down, becoming a school bus driver to address a severe shortage of drivers.

Until the end, Godfrey remained devoted to the ice and his family. Having helped start Family Ice Center in Falmouth in 1997, he served as its Board President from 2014 to 2025 and recently led the fundraising efforts to restore its outdoor rink, Twombly Pond.

As he recently wrote, “I will always find serenity parked next to the tree planted in memory of my son Sidney, overlooking Twombly Pond, and seeing his daughter Flora skating along so happily."

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Family Ice Center (Family Ice Center; PO Box 6127; Falmouth, ME 04105 or www.familyice.org/sponsorships/donate).

A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at 43 Foreside Road in Falmouth, Maine on January 17, 2026 at 3PM.