David H. Wood – 50th Reunion Essay

David H. Wood

3826 Eileen Dr.

Cincinnati, OH 45209-2013

davidhwood97@gmail.com

513-477-1961

Spouse(s): Erika J. Laquer, (1968–1979), Rebecca S. Seeman (1984)

Child(ren): Mariel S. and Rachel S. Wood (1986)

Education: Yale College, BA 1969; Temple University, MA 1974, ABD 1978

Career: Instructor/Adjunct Temple U. and Community College of Philadelphia, 1972–1978; Project Leader, Manager, Western & Southern Financial Group, 1988–2013

Avocations: Railroading pre-USRA; model rail; astro-science; philosophy; cooking; genealogy.

College: Davenport

Our subject invokes memory: eel slippery:

Viewing some PBS thing about “The Sixties” brought to mind an image of phalanxed New Haven Policemen in their gorgeous navy greatcoats, some in the front line rapping their nightsticks on their opposite palms. A classmate, out of sheer curiosity, had brought us to a draft board demonstration in the fall of ’66. Somehow ending up “in charge,” we negotiated a peaceful withdrawal of the demonstrators once New Haven’s Finest—that block of blue worsted—showed up to clear the sidewalk. Contacting the classmate to authenticate this scene—roomies and closest pals from that time all having died—brought the reply “I do not recall….” Hmmm…

Those four New Haven years played as a harrowing road trip, Bacchus driving, Apollo rallying at opportune moments, Venus ever more distracting; carving deep blue ripples, etc. Events, however, built a foundation for dealing with tight times, such as when a group of AK-toting gents interrupted Pocomania field research in Papine and August Town, JA—and many lesser occasions. On the plus side, a nice letter from Professor William Christian got me into Temple University’s Religion Department—hence the gents and also a year studying in Paris—before all the jobs in the field went to former pastors.

House-husbanding twin daughters until they were one and a half preceded 25 years as an IT project leader and configuration/testing manager for a financial services company moving things from big iron to small silicon, which a religious studies background surprisingly assisted. Current retirement permits curiosity-quenching forays into ancestry, philosophy, and railroading (pre-USRA); time for bass and pike fishing in Michigan; gardening; skiing (both kinds but no back-country); traveling. Fewer tight times as well.

Advice: Patronize and support the local library system [“Read widely.” –Professor Leonard J. Barrett, TU]; straighten your gig-line; make no decisions before breakfast; if you need to lose your prostate, have it holmium-laser enucleated; extended hard labor heals the pain of a first-marriage crack-up; a gauntleted leather work glove with sand stuck to tar in the palm works best for handling large live eels. Maintain your smoothness.