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In Memoriam
We regret to announce the passing of Bruce Ervin Wood and Bob Cordes and on behalf of the AEHS community extend our condolences to their families and friends.
Bruce Erwin Wood of the Class of 1970 passed away suddenly on May 14, 2013.
Bruce graduated from West Virginia University Institute of Technology with a degree in labor relations and economics in 1976. He earned an MBA with a focus on labor and industrial relations from Howard University. He was a Human Resources and Organizations Dynamics professional who was an International Coaching Federation-certified Executive Coach. He worked for the National Institutes of Health and worked for Georgetown University as a leadership coach. He later started his own firm, Toward the Light Executive Coaching. Bruce was also an accomplished stained-glass artist whose work has been exhibited at the Montgomery County Executive Office Building and many other places. He was a lifelong resident of Montgomery County.
Bruce is survived by his wife Edie Geiwitz Wood, his daughters Megann Wither and Kyra Wood, his grandson William "Fitz" Wither, his mother Betty Houser, his brothers Michael Wood and Dan Wood, his sister Barbetta Jones, and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. A memorial service and celebration of Bruce's life will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 at the Fellowship Hall of Mill Creek Parrish United Methodist Church, 7107 Horizon Terrace, in Derwood, Maryland.
Bruce composed the following poem "Blind" in 1992. It is reprinted with permission of Bruce's daughter Megann Wither.
In the brightness of the day,
We see the sun shine everywhere.
The smiles of people reach our hearts,
Projecting tender love and care.
The light inside mingles out,
Life transparent as we trod,
Beyond the ever present night,
Just inside our sight of God.
Human candles glow around,
Joined together in this when
Show everythings that maybe are
From everythings that might have been.
Independence stands alone,
But in that darkness who can see,
Suspended light in our mind's eye,
Shackled separate yet free.
For freedom's prison holds together,
Everyone who stands apart.
Isolation so restrains,
Vision longing in our hearts.
In worlds of shadow, dare we pause,
To raise a question of His being,
Cry our anguished plea for cause,
All because we are not seeing.
Within our cell despair absorbs,
A world awash in brightening light.
Filtered by the thickening veil,
The fear of loss the pain of night.
When by grace we chance to see,
Almost withered by our "Why"s,
There alone within our void
A spark of God within our eyes.
When even self has run away,
To join the no ones left around,
We can feel His warm embrace
And know God's loving still abounds.
Sheltered in His loving arms,
Eternal God is ours to find,
Despite our emptiness alarms
Our eyes were closed but never blind.
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Robert (Bob) Cordes (Class of 1972)
Bob Cordes of the Class of 1972 passed away on Sunday, June 2. He is survived by his wife Sandy Graves Cordes of the Class of 1971, his sons Brian Cordes and Daniel Cordes, his mother Margarete Johns, his brother John Cordes, and many other relatives and friends.
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In Memoriam-Correction: The obituary for Joseph LePire circulated in issue #24 contained two errors. Joe died on April 28, 2013 (not May 28). He was a member of the AEHS Class of 1964 (not 1974). I apologize to the LePire family for these errors-FS.
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