Gregory Wood Sr.

1941 - 2026

Gregory Wood Sr.
12/30/1941 - 03/12/2026
Gregory Wood, Sr. passed away peacefully on March 12, 2026 surrounded by his loving family.
Preceded in death by parents Bob and Mary Wood and brothers Doug, Dick, and Herb, he is survived by his wife Kathie (Poston), brother Don, daughters Mary Kathryn and Allison, son Greg Jr, grandchildren Rafa Cazorla, Louis Cazorla, and Fíadh Wood, brother-in-law Dudley Poston Jr, sister in law Sheila Wood, son-in-law Rafael Cazorla, daughter-in-law Kim Murphy, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins in San Francisco and beyond.
Born in Butte, MT, Greg spent his early childhood in Post Falls, ID and Spokane, WA.
His family moved to San Francisco in 1956 and settled in the Eureka Valley neighborhood, where he met and made lifelong friends.
Greg attended St. Ignatius High School earning All-City honors as linebacker and guard and was an integral member of the 1958 AAA Turkey Day Football Championship team. As a result of his gridiron prowess, Greg was offered scholarships to a number of universities but accepted a football scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, earning a football monogram in 1962. He remained a Loyal Son of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the rest of his life.
After serving in the Army from 1963-65, Greg returned to the city and started his illustrious coaching career at the University of San Francisco, coaching brothers Dick, Herb, and Don.
He later moved to the AAA ranks, coaching O'Connell and Lincoln High School football, helping lead the Mustangs to eight Turkey Day Championships and two State Titles, while earning AAA Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 2013. His un-ending patience on the football field and in the classroom helped provide guidance and mentorship that would have a lasting impact on over two generations of San Francisco high-school students.
While widely known as "Coach," Greg's talents and impact extended beyond the football field.
He fought in the finals of the Bengal Bouts at Notre Dame in 1962. He spent 45 years in the San Francisco Unified School District teaching English, History, and Physical Education.
He graduated from Law School in 1978 and passed the bar in 1982, practicing law at The Offices of Cullen and Wood. He was the Exalted Ruler of the oldest Elk's Lodge in the United States, and was a proud member of the Olympic Club for over 40 years. Greg was later inducted into the San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame in June of 2015.
Greg was an outstanding student, athlete, officer, coach, teacher, bartender, lawyer, and friend. Most importantly he was an outstanding husband and father. You will be terribly missed, Champ.
Funeral Mass will be held Friday, 24 April 2026 at 11.00 A.M. at St. Cecilia Church. Reception to follow at the United Irish Cultural Center.