Michael (Mike, Woody, Dad, Daddy) Woodworth, of Bowen Island, British Columbia, died June 25, 2024, at the age of 47.
Woody, born in 1976, grew up in the small town of Hudson, Ohio. From child to adulthood, Woody was energetic, curious, funny, social and smart. He thrived on community, be that his beloved family, friends or colleagues. Woody left an indelible mark on everyone. He was passionate, deeply loyal, honest and led his life with integrity.
In 2006, Woody married the love of his life, Andrea. Woody and Andrea started their family in Bexley, Ohio, then relocated to Vancouver in 2014. They loved the raw Pacific Northwest. They added Canadian citizenship, and six passports for Andrea, Woody and their four beautiful children Lleyton, Bodhi, Ruby, and Mila.
Andrea and Woody were in love, they were together for 21 years, they made each other laugh daily and made each other better. They worked passionately to create an incredible family. They travelled the world, staying one night in a shack by a river, and then a five-star hotel the next. That was all part of the adventure. Woody liked the hotel best but never complained. Andrea and Woody created a home together, a nest wherever they were. They renovated and made each place special to them.
Woody was a passionate and dedicated father. He carved out special relationships with each of his kids. He was there for them with all his heart. Every day, his mission was to fill their buckets with safety, laughs, love and education. His weekend wasn’t complete without movie night, this was as much fun for Woody as for them. He loved watching Lleyton, Bodhi, Ruby, and Mila grow and develop together and blossom as individuals. Always talking about them at work and to his friends and family with such immense pride, his family was his greatest achievement.
Woody loved fashion and clothing. He would lay out outfits in his mind; lovingly, this drove Andrea crazy. When he couldn’t find the white shirt he needed to complete the outfit, she would have to get up at 5am and find it for him. Woody had dozens of white shirts, but it had to be the definitive one. Woody loved to buy clothes for Andrea and the kids. Sometimes, Friday nights were spent going through Andrea’s closet creating outfits for fun together. Andrea’s girlfriends would show a little jealousy. They would laugh together, saying Woody was the perfect husband. He really wasn’t far off from that.
Woody was a proud graduate of Ohio University, and an avid Ohio State Buckeyes fan. He had sports running through his veins, as a fan watching, analyzing and playing. Weekend golf with his buddies was a deep love. Woody was passionate about details, diving into history; he always had an interesting fact or story to share, relevant or not. Music was a drive for Woody, whether listening at home, at a concert with Andrea, or energetically performing at karaoke.
Woody built an accomplished career in the apparel industry. He was one of the most dedicated, passionate souls. Work was not work to Woody. He loved to analyze the business, discuss and debate decisions. Woody created another home where he worked. He had a family there, his team, his peers and superiors. Woody made the workplace stronger by inspiring people to work hard, thrive and have fun. He waved his arms around so passionately his co-workers sometimes thought he might take off. Woody loved to teach and mentor; he had dreams of living in Maine and being a professor later in life. He spent over a decade at both Abercrombie and Fitch and Lululemon. Woody was a huge contributing factor to Lululemon’s unprecedented growth and success in the last ten years, leaving as ‘SVP of Merchandising.’ Woody and his future co-workers were so excited as he had just announced his next adventure in the apparel industry at Arc’teryx.
His curiosity was unique and playful. He would listen to you with everything. He looked you deep in the eye, would ask questions and want to dive deeper and deeper. He possessed the intriguing skill of making you feel like the only person in the room of importance. Woody was measured and had a comforting predictability to him, with the contrast of a vivacious energy that drew people in toward him.
Wherever Woody now resides, he certainly is watching Seinfeld. Seinfeld was Woody’s favorite pair of pajamas that put him to sleep every night for 20+ years. Mila would laugh her head off, quoting characters from her daddy’s favorite episodes (Junior Mint).
Woody is survived and will be so deeply missed by Andrea, their children Lleyton, Bodhi, Ruby, and Mila, his parents Barb and Terry of Hudson, Ohio, and his brother Craig (Allyson) of Hudson, Ohio. And all the people Woody touched on his journey.
Memorial services have not been announced. The best way to pay respects would be to live life as Woody did: Don’t hold back. Empty your tank each day.
'Everything alive must die. Every building built to the sky will fall. Don’t try to tell me my everlasting love is a lie.' - Jeff Tweedy