James Patrick Wood, 66, passed away on Memorial Day, May 30, 2016 at his home at Pilgrim Place, Claremont, Calif.

He was born in Pasadena, Calif. on Nov. 11, 1949 to James A. Wood and Barbara DeVeen Wood (now Pafe). His father’s name was James so he was Patrick to family and friends. When two, the family moved to Riverside, Calif., where the family built a home close to where his father grew up. Three sisters Julie, India and Jean followed. The home was surrounded by grapefruit trees with large orange groves surrounding that.

While at the University of Arizona, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. After college, he joined his father in the life insurance business. He was very active in the Sierra Singles group of the Sierra Club, where in 1993 he met Jane Gibbons. In the summer of 1994, he moved to Apple Valley, Calif., where he was a substitute teacher for several years. In August of 1996, he and Jane were married, in Sweden, near Jane’s family summer home. In January 2002, after Jane retired, the couple bought a Sportsmobile camper van, took a 17,000-mile, 17-week trip across the south and east of the USA, and moved to Sweden. The couple lived in Maine, year-round for 11 years. While in Maine, he was a substitute teacher, was active in Lovell and Bridgton cribbage clubs, the Sweden Community Church and Historical Society. In 2014, they moved to Pilgrim Place, Claremont, Calif. Both were very active in the Claremont Senior Bike group. He proudly won two gold metals and one silver in the two judged events in which he participated in 2016, the last on April 24.

His mother Barbara Pafe, stepfather Basil Pafe,  sisters Julie Hirsch, India Wood and Jean Wood live in California and Nevada. He is also survived by two nephews, three nieces and a grandnephew.

Donations in his memory may be made to Pilgrim Place Resident Health and Support Fund, 625 Mayflower Road, Claremont, CA 91711 or Jubilee Partners, Box 68, Comer, GA 30629 (a community in support of immigrants).