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Gary Woods Obituary
61, passed away February 18th, 2015 from a heart attack at his home in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Gary was born in Santa Barbara, California on July 20th 1953 to parents Joe and Esther Woods. He attended McKinley and Hollister elementary schools, La Colina Junior High, and San Marcos High School, from which he graduated in 1971.
In high school he met his future wife of 25 years, Susan Gordon, and was a standout basketball and baseball player for coaches Maury Halleck and Joe Mueller.
Upon graduation from San Marcos, Gary attended Santa Barbara City College to play baseball for coach Rusty Fairly. In 1973 Gary signed with the Oakland Athletics as a free agent and started his professional career in Lewiston, Idaho playing for manager Rene Lacheman.
He made his major league debut with the A's on September 14, 1976 in a game against the Minnesota Twins and got his first big league hit off of Dave Goltz. He was then selected by Toronto in the 1977 expansion draft and went on to spend 14 years playing professional baseball with the Oakland A's, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, and Chicago Cubs. In Chicago, he was a member of the 1984 National League East Champions.
Upon his retirement from baseball, Gary earned an MBA from Pepperdine University and spent 15 years as an executive with GTE Mobilnet and Maps.com before returning to work in baseball in 2006.
In the last decade he combined his scouting responsibilities for the Chicago White Sox with being a member of the coaching staff for the five-time National Champion Santa Barbara Foresters, which allowed him to pursue his passion for developing young people on and off the field.
His passions outside of baseball included surfing at Hollister Ranch, hunting, and fly-fishing in the High Sierra. He is in the San Marcos High School Hall of Fame, and was also inducted into the Santa Barbara Athletic Roundtable Hall of Fame in 1994.
His beloved mother Esther, a younger brother Clancy, his former wife Susan, their three children, Ryan, Randy, and Katy, and three grandchildren survive Gary.
There will be a public memorial service on Saturday, February 28th at 1:30PM at Pershing Park, home of the SBCC Vaqueros, which is located at 100 Castillo Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93110.
In lieu of flowers, a Gary Woods Memorial Fund has been established at Montecito Bank and Trust.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Gary Woods
Sponsored by Friends of the SB County Baseball Community.
Bob Ibach
February 19, 2024
Can't believe it is 9 years ago that Woodsie passed. Miss him and our chats and will remember him at our 1984 reunion (40th) when the Boys of '84 gather in the Chicago area in mid-June. Gary was an important member of that team that captured the hearts of Chicago baseball fans on the North Side. He played a steady leftfield for us and got some big hits along the way during that magical summer. My thoughts will be with him and his family at our reunion. May he continue to rest in peace.
Bob Ibach
February 19, 2021
On days I watch a fly ball hit lazily to left field at Wrigley Field I sometimes see Gary coming to make the catch. My friend and Cubs teammate will always be remembered.
Dan Murr
January 25, 2016
Will miss you buddy. We had fun working and playing and hunting together for so many years and having Sue work with me when you were in Tucson was a wonderful experience. Judy and I will always have many fun memories. You were the best and will be missed.
October 13, 2015
Dear Sue, Ryan, and Randy:
So sorry to hear of Gary's passing. Having both been from So. Cal, We were often thought to resemble each other in size and appearance. Having grown up in the Oakland Organization together, we separated with Gary being drafted by Toronto, myself by Seattle in 1977. Thank you for our friendship and know you are in a better place now....grif
Thomas Dolson
March 21, 2015
Gary and I played together at Santa Barbara City College.for 1 year..Great athlete..even better person. I remember the day he hit a home run at Fullerton City College, and an Oakland A's scout gave him a business card, and then quickly signed him as a free agent.. The odds were against him..but he made it because he wanted it. I hurt my arm in college , and we were not in touch over the years, but in his memory I thought I would share a true FIELD OF DREAMS story. Very proud of you Gary you proved alot of people wrong making it to the top in baseball...DREAMS CAN COME TRUE.
John Muller
March 4, 2015
Our thoughts and prayers to his family, Gary was a great guy and friend to us all, lots of great memories!
R.I.P. Gary Woods
Cail Karen
March 2, 2015
Jil Jackson-Richards
March 1, 2015
My thoughts and prayers are with your family, Gary. Peace.
Mark Smith
February 28, 2015
Always thought of others before himself.
A sincerely compassionate guy,a true friend to everyone. May his spirit live on in all of us.
Tom O'Higgins
February 28, 2015
Gary was a great guy, a kind man, and always said hello and was interested in what one was "up to"...it never was about him. Besides, he was a great giver of the game and of his passion and love for it and others. - Hope you go for the "cycle" up there Gary...-Tom O', aka "redshorts"
Rick, Tina, Shawn and Kathleen PhalenCharlott
February 27, 2015
There has never been anyone like him. God bless you gary.
Richard Head
February 26, 2015
God blessed Gary with tremendous athletic talent and he used it to the fullest by sharing it with so many others. Being a team mate of Gary's back in high school I always admired Gary's passion and intensity with which he played. He always caused other around him to raise the level of their game. I'm sure many of those Gary influenced will pass on his legacy. I pray for God's Grace to comfort Gary's family during this difficult time.
February 26, 2015
My thoughts are with you, Ester. Losing a son is overwhelming.
much Aloha, Bobby Pagliotti
Waimanalo, Hawaii
Maggie Weiss
February 26, 2015
Beginning many moons ago, Gary left his mark on so many of us. May he rest in peace and shine his light on us now. God grant the Woods family many happy thoughts in their memories of Gary's time. My sincere condolences.
February 26, 2015
Our prayers are with the entire family! We are so sorry for everyone's loss.
Debra & Ron
Weinstock
Ed Easton
February 26, 2015
My Prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. We have had some great memories through the years of Baseball.
Katy Harrington
February 26, 2015
Love you Gary I will miss you
Katy Harrington
February 26, 2015
A long time friend who will miss you greatly RIP Gary my thoughts and prayers to your family who you loved so much and who loved you in return You will be missed by all whom lives you touched
Chuck and Candy Menzel
February 26, 2015
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Woods family during this most difficult time.
Susan Kucynda
February 25, 2015
My thoughts and prayers to Gary's family. Rest in peace my dear friend, you are missed.
Bob Ibach
February 25, 2015
Great teammate, friend and all around person. Gary was on our Cubs team in 1984 when we almost made it to the World Series. Gary gave back to youth in his later years and I am sure those who he trained will carry on his message. RIP my friend.
TRUE BEACH
February 25, 2015
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
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