James N. Wood

LOS ANGELES (AP) - James N. Wood, the president and chief executive of the J. Paul Getty Trust, who also worked for 25 years at the Art Institute of Chicago, has died. He was 69.

He died unexpectedly of natural causes, Mark Siegel, who chairs the Getty's board of trustees, said in a statement Saturday. Wood was found in his Los Angeles home late Friday.

Siegel paid tribute to Wood's accomplishments during his three years at the Getty, including his focus on increasing collaboration between the Getty's museum, foundation and research and conservation institutes.

"Jim valued collaboration, and he reinforced that value at the Getty," Siegel said. "Jim led a strategic planning process that emphasized ways in which the Getty's four programs could work together to further enhance the institution's already strong worldwide reputation."

Wood worked for a quarter century as director and president of the Art Institute of Chicago, then retired wi th his wife Emese to Rhode Island.

He came out of retirement to work at the Getty in December 2006, following the resignation of Barry Munitz.

Wood received his undergraduate degree in art history from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., and his masters from the Institute for Fine Arts at New York University.

His areas of specialization included European paintings, sculpture and photography.

Wood is survived by his wife, two daughters and their families.


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