David Allen Wood

David Allen Wood

April 24, 1935 - October 1, 2025

Obituary

David was born on April 24, 1935 in Concord, New Hampshire, and died peacefully in Seattle, WA on October 1, 2025, at the age of 90.

He began his study of music and piano at the age of 6, in the youth program at the New England Conservatory and continued through high school. He attended the University of New Hampshire (BA), Harvard University (MA), and Simmons College (MS).

David's career began at Harvard University as Music Librarian (1960-77). He came to the west coast and began a 30 year career at the University of Washington as Head Librarian of the Music Library, and in 1980 he concurrently was Head of Humanities and Social Sciences Library until his retirement in 1997.

During his career, David researched, compiled and authored "Music in Harvard Libraries", a Catalogue of Eary Music and Book on Music in the Houghton Library and Eda Kuhn Library of the Harvard Library College". It was published in 1980 by Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. It received a "Great" published review in the American Recorder, May 1981, by Dale Higbee.

David was named a Woodrow Wilson Fellow (1957-58). He was Founding Chair of the Pacific NW Chapter of the Music Library Association.

In his retirement years, David enjoyed cooking, collecting art and furniture, and traveling, especially with family in Puerto Vallarta. David loved beauty through the arts. He attended many performances at the University of Washington, the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Opera which were just a few of the many arts organizations he supported. He was quoted in one of his Alumni annuals "I loved academia so much, I never left it."

David Wood was born to Dorthy J. and Wallace P. Wood. He is survived by his twin brother Donald Wood and younger brother James Wood both of New Hampshire.