Michael Wood

On April 15, 1954, Joseph and Helen Wood became the proud parents of Michael F. Wood. Following in quick succession, Joe and Helen added to that family daughters Nancy, Stacy, and son Joseph Jr. The family resided on the beach in Laguna Beach, California, a then-sleepy coastal town. Mike's father supported the family by operating a full-service gasoline station in town. When Mike was six years old, and Joe Junior was under two years old, Mike's mother died suddenly of a heart attack. Her death left the family in turmoil for a number of years. When Mike was 14 years old, Mike's father married Theresa Mueller, a widow, who brought to the marriage her own three children, Nancy Ann, William Jr., and David. The combined family of seven children moved to Orange County, California. In his youth, Mike developed a love a surfing, basketball, tennis, golf, and cooking. From an early age, he worked in restaurants. After high school graduation, Mike did not immediately attend college but worked as a chef at several up-scale restaurants in Newport Beach until he decided to pursue other career options. Mike enrolled at the University of California at Santa Barbara, pursuing a degree first in art, then in political science. Upon graduation from college, Mike moved to Washington, D.C. to attend law school at the Catholic University of America, from which he graduated in 1983. After graduating from law school, Mike was employed at the United States Department of Energy as an Assistant Prosecutor with the "crude team," prosecuting oil companies before the Federal Regulatory Commission. There, he met his future wife, Lisa, when their career arcs briefly intersected. In 1987, Mike moved to Cleveland, Ohio to accept a position with the Cleveland Field Office of the United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division. Lisa soon followed Mike to Cleveland and the two were married on June 18, 1988. They each practiced law in Cleveland, buying a home in Shaker Heights, Ohio. In late 1993, Mike and Lisa became the proud parents of twin boys, Andrew and Nathaniel, followed quickly by their daughter, Elizabeth, born in early 1995. In 1999, Mike became the Assistant Chief Cleveland Field Office Antitrust Division of his office, a position he retained until his death on March 4, 2012. Mike loved working at the Department of Justice. He travelled widely, prosecuted many complex antitrust cases, and developed a host of friendships that he treasured deeply. Throughout Mike's adult life, he tried his best to remain physically active. Besides chasing his three active children, Mike always loved running, swimming and biking. It was inevitable that he began to participate in triathlons in 1998, combining these three activities into one sport. Mike was determined to preserve his physical fitness after the sudden death of his father in 1991, who died of a heart attack while golfing, and most recently after the death of his younger brother Joe in 2010, who died of a heart attack while surfing. Nonetheless, Mike succumbed to an untimely death while participating in an indoor-triathlon this past Sunday. Mike will be remembered for his quick wit, passionate opinions, sense of adventure, warm smile and infectious laugh. His greatest source of pride was his family, Lisa, Andrew, Nathaniel and Elizabeth. He was a great friend to many. Mike will be missed by all. Funeral Services will be held at 5pm on Thursday, March 8 at Brown-Forward, 17022 Chagrin Blvd, Shaker Hts., OH. FRIENDS MAY CALL FROM 2-5PM PRIOR TO THE SERVICE.


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