Harold
D. Woods, 85, a man of faith, lifelong student and teacher, dreamer
and builder, and a heartfelt family man, departed our earthly plane
on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
Hal
has said the journey of life is like walking the labyrinth: There is
a single path we walk, and we can’t lose our way as we safely go to
the center and out again. Along the paths we meet fellow travelers
who either pass, follow or walk in parallel with us for a while, and
when we eventually separate, say goodbye. Hal has completed his
labyrinth walk and left us with memories of his unending love and a
life well lived.
Hal
was born Harold Dean Woods to Elmer William Earl and Edith May
Bassett Woods on August 10, 1939, in Henryetta, Okla. His older
brother, Ronnie, was tragically killed as a teenager when Hal was 9.
This loss had a tremendous impact on the lives of Hal and his younger
brother, David, who was born on Christmas two years before the
accident. The mention of Ronnie’s name always brought a tear to
Hal’s eyes.
Hal
was an Oklahoma original from Tulsa who ended up leaving his mark in
“Yankee” territory. His dreams were kindled at Northwestern
University and achieved in Vermont. Along the way he read any and
every theological or spiritual book he could find and was ordained as
a Methodist minister and as an Episcopal priest. Hal had an
unquenchable passion for learning, studying the writings and
teachings of Buckminster Fuller, Reinhold Niebuhr, David Hawkins and
Richard Rohr, for example. He was always surrounded by books
(nonfiction only) holding his current read in one hand and a yellow
highlighter in the other.
Hal
and his first wife, Marilyn Healy Woods, met at Drew University in
Madison, N.J., where Hal completed theological school and later built
a college ministry at Grace Episcopal Church. Hal and Marilyn brought
their two children, Paul and Anne, to Vermont and settled in
Ferrisburgh in 1969. Marilyn was a remarkable and talented teacher in
the Addison Northwest School District, primarily at Vergennes Union
Elementary School, for 42 years. Hal and Marilyn ended their marriage
in 1981, although they remained good friends and parented together.
Marilyn predeceased Hal on September 10, 2023.
In
1969 Hal had been hired as coordinator of fraternity affairs at the
University of Vermont. The following year he became director of the
Office of Volunteer Programs (OVP) just as UVM was ending its overtly
racist Kake Walk tradition. The 80-year tradition was replaced by a
Film and Slide Festival. At Hal’s suggestion, two students (Brian
Doubleday and Jim Taylor) created a compelling film for the festival
called “Do Nothing WITH Someone,” showing the potential for
community service by students. It was shown in a large auditorium
with thousands in attendance. The huge student response to this film
gave great momentum to service learning at UVM. In 1972 OVP became
the Center for Service Learning as volunteer experiences were linked
with academic interests and credit. Under Hal’s leadership and with
the energy of his students, in conjunction with community leaders
such as then-mayor Bernie Sanders, projects such as the UVM Rescue
Service, student internships in community agencies and other
volunteer programs were created.
Hal
and the UVM program have been recognized as pioneers in the service
learning movement. Former students continued to recognize him and
have raved about the community service projects they participated in
under his leadership at UVM. Many have ended up with careers in
public service.
Hal
retired from UVM in 1990, when he was called to be rector at All
Saints Episcopal Church in South Burlington. He remained as rector in
that church, where he previously preached and worshiped, until he
retired in 1999. Along the way he also taught the practice of
personal journal writing, published the Personal Support System, and
pursued other business and health-related ventures.
Hal
married Stephanie Flanigan Cordner and joined her and her two
children, Kristin and Geoffrey Cordner, in Burlington in 1986. They
moved to Lakeview Terrace in Burlington prior to moving to South
Hero, where they lived on Hochelaga Road (with a labyrinth in their
backyard), and most recently with Kristin Decatur and Chris Howe on
South Street. They have loved visiting Geoffrey and his beautiful
family, who now reside in Killarney, Ireland.
Hal
loved labyrinths as places of prayer and healing, and he led
parishioners to create a unique and beautiful labyrinth during his
time at All Saints Church at the corner of Swift and Spear in South
Burlington. This 11-circuit Chartres labyrinth is open to the public
and adjacent to the South Burlington Recreation Path.
Hal
was living in the Northeast when he retired from All Saints Church,
but he loved and missed the beauty of the West. Continuing their
life’s journey, Hal and Stephanie decided to travel off and on for
years by motor home around the U.S. Their adventures included
creating labyrinths on the beaches of Hilton Head, studying at the
art academy, traveling out west, visiting their Lakota family in Pine
Ridge, stopping to see relatives, working, writing, painting and
making friends along the way.
Hal
had a big heart and an unending yearning to understand the world and
teach others the spiritual reality of it, but his love for his
family, whom he loved deeply and completely, was utmost to him.
When
dreaming about his future in high school, Hal wrote that he wanted to
explore either being a farmer; doing something in theatrics or music,
nutrition and health; or doing something with a spiritual heft to it.
In
retrospect, this explains his love of Vermont, where he could walk
his Aussies in hayfields, perform in the All Saints Church musicals
(written by Bob and Marylou Sutherland), research and share secrets
of good health, and be fully in love with this physical world while
deeply rooted in the love of God.
Hal
leaves behind his beautiful children, Paul Roman Woods, his wife,
Melissa Gascon Woods, and children, David and Emily, in Fishers,
Ind.; and Anne Woods and her partner, Teresa Esguerra, of
Albuquerque, N.M. He also leaves his wife, Stephanie; stepdaughter,
Kristin Cordner Decatur, her spouse, Chris Howe, and grandchildren
Joshua, Justin, Jonathan and Jacob of South Hero; stepson, Geoffrey
Cordner, and grandchildren Kaytlin and Jamie of Killarney, Ireland;
and his brother, David Allen Woods, and his wife, Betsy Wilber Woods,
of Halifax, Mass., and their children, Joshua and wife Amy Amormino
Woods and grandchildren Grant, Jayton and Gibson in Kingston Mass.,
and Christy Woods Redding and husband Jim and grandchildren Danielle
and Elijah in Topsfield, Mass.
A
celebration of Hal’s life will be held on Saturday, December 7, 1
p.m., at All Saints Episcopal Church in South Burlington. It will be
followed by a small reception.
In
lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution designated to support
the All Saints Community Labyrinth at All Saints Episcopal Church,
1250 Spear St., South Burlington, VT 05403.
This article appears in The Winter Preview Issue 2024.
He will be missed.