Donald Clair Wood, age 82, of Severna Park, died on December 31, 2022 at Hospice of the Chesapeake following a long illness. Don was born on April 25, 1940 in Urbana, Illinois to the late Brigadier General Clair Wood and Mary Bennett Wood.

A graduate of the University of Texas with a BS in Electrical Engineering (1963), Don began his long career serving the United States first as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force before transitioning to civilian service as an electronic design engineer at the National Security Agency. He retired in December, 1994 as an Executive Leader following many leadership contributions and 31 years of dedicated service to the mission of the NSA.

Don enjoyed being on the water throughout his life. In his youth he explored many tributaries in and around New York and Mississippi in his wooden Penn Yan runabout with his dog, Markie. As a child, he discovered sailing and then mastered the many skills of sailboat operation and ownership as an adult. He owned numerous sailboats over his lifetime, but his pride and joy was "Merlin," a beautiful Bristol 38.8 sloop. Don and his family extensively cruised the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. He also loved sailing offshore and took numerous trips to New England and Bermuda. His favorite trip, however, was a 5-month excursion aboard Merlin with his wife, Lynne (deceased) to Newfoundland in 1995.

When he was not sailing, Don enjoyed spending time with his wife, Sandy, whether it was traveling the highways and byways in his roadster or the occasional trip to far off places. When home, he and Sandy met frequently with their sailing friends in their oft-referred to "landing parties." Don could regularly be found tinkering and making endless improvements to their home. The backyard pool and vista were a favorite gathering place for all his friends and family.

He is greatly missed and survived by his loving wife, Sandra Wood, son Andrew Wood (wife Mary), daughter Cynthia Wood Huffaker (ex-husband Dodd), stepdaughter Kristin Cutler, stepson Robert Cutler (Kelly Simons), grandchildren James Wood (Kelsie Goettling), Lindsay Wood Gaimaro (Joshua), Kailyn Huffaker, Evan Huffaker, Jada Cutler, Sadie Cutler, Paige Simons, Aidan Simons, and great grandchild Amelia Violet Wood. He is also survived by his sister Sue Spence, his brother-in-law GT Myers (Susan), and extended family to include his many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends may visit on Saturday January 7, 2023 from 1:00pm-3:00pm with a service to follow at 3:00pm at the Barranco Severna Park Funeral Home & Cremation Care, P.A. 495 Ritchie Hwy. Severna Park, MD 21146. Interment at the MD Veterans cemetery will be private.