Obituary of Mark Woodward

Mark Woodward, 57, passed away April 16, 2007 in Olympia after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Portland Oregon on Aug. 31, 1949. He is preceded in death by his father, Ross Woodward, and is survived by his mother, Ora Woodward of Portland, Oregon. Mark is also survived by his wife, Carol of Olympia and two daughters: Janet Woodward and partner, Eve Lyons of Boston, MA; and Dawna Woodward and partner, Jessica Leahy of Old Town, ME. Mark’s siblings are: Leigh Landrin and husband, Marc of Cholet, France; Jeff Woodward and wife, Jane of Portland; Jon Woodward of Portland; Lora Burley and husband, Paul of Sandy, OR; and Dolores Woodward of Houston, TX; Mark's Aunt "Sis", Loretta Fox, lives in Lacey, and Mark was very fond of her. Mark is also survived by step-children: Tamia Nordby, Brooke Piggins, and Kevin Nordby. He also has many beloved nieces and nephews. Mark spent many years managing Fred Astaire Dance Studio’s in Winnipeg, Canada; Edmonton, Canada; and Tacoma, Washington. From 1984 to 1990 Mark worked at Jessie Dyslin Boys Ranch in Tacoma WA as Development Director. In 1987 he completed his bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Pacific Lutheran University on a fellowship granted in his senior year for outstanding academic performance. Mark then pursued a career in social work and was employed by Children’s Administration for 16 years. He conducted investigations for Child Protective Services in Kent for 8 years; and from 1999 to his retirement on April 1st, Mark worked in Olympia as a program manager and computer applications trainer. Mark was concerned with employee burnout in social services, and did what he could to encourage and support fellow workers. One example of this is when he organized an annual Technology Rodeo 2003-2005, a fun event for social workers and clerical staff learning new computer skills. Mark’s favorite hobby was boating, especially delivering yachts with his best friend, Jim O’Sullivan. Together they had many adventures on the open seas, including deliveries up and down the West Coast, through the Panama Canal, from Florida to New York; and as recently as January 2007, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Puerto Rico. In 2005, after his terminal cancer diagnosis, Mark bought Sea Roamer, his beloved 1966 wooden Grand Banks troller, and cruised South Puget Sound, the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands all summer. This fulfilled Mark’s greatest wish: to share the salt water with family and friends. Mark loved adventure. As a boy of 11, he organized a trip to California by himself to spend the summer with relatives. In the 1970s and 1980s, he traveled around the country for ballroom dance competitions. In the 1980s and 1990s Mark enjoyed horseback riding, including clearing trails by horseback in Mt. Rainier National Park. In 2002 he paddled 150 miles of the Missouri River, following the trail of Lewis and Clark. Mark also traveled to France to visit his sister Leigh; to the Baja, Mexico in search of migrating whales; to the Desert Southwest; and to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Mark loved photography, hunting, camping, golfing, cooking and entertaining. One of Mark’s favorite pastimes was to host parties and to cook for friends and family. He loved the ritual of food preparation and kitchen activity. He especially loved cooking seafood and steak with beautifully garnished plates, and having a house full of people. In 1997 Mark was diagnosed with stage-3 colon cancer. He fought this cancer and was declared cancer free in 2001. In 2005, he was again diagnosed with cancer, this time the deadly pancreatic cancer. Mark was told that most people with his diagnosis survive only six months to one year. Mark chose to undergo major chemotherapy, and survived for 2 years. Mark was especially thankful to the oncology staff at Group Health who treated him with respect, honor, and good cheer throughout his illness. Mark went through his cancer with incredible strength, dignity and aplomb. Mark had a quick wit, a sparkle in his eye, and a love of language. He loved telling stories of his adventures on the high seas. He was a “people” person, who went the extra mile in caring and respecting everyone, especially those in need. Mark’s personality was bigger than life, and he is greatly missed. A celebration of Mark’s life will be on April 27th, 12:00, at the Tumwater Valley Lodge in Tumwater WA. Memorial contributions in honor of Mark are suggested to the: Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. www.pancreatic.org / click on donation / then memorial and tribute and follow the instructions.