Los
Angeles, CA – Getty Trust President and chief executive James
N. Wood
died late Friday night of natural causes, board chairman Mark S. Siegel
announced Saturday. Wood, 69, was reportedly in good health and his
death was
unexpected. Wood came out of retirement to accept the job as Getty
president in
December 2006. He arrived in the wake of financial and other upheavals
related
to the tumultuous tenure of the trust’s prior president, Barry Munitz,
who
resigned the post early in his second term. Wood, a highly respected
former
museum director, had been at the helm of the Art Institute of Chicago
for 25
years before his retirement to Rhode Island.
I was exceedingly fortunate to begin my museum career under Jim Wood at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1987. I have never worked for a better boss and have known few professionals in any field who matched his ability to gather the best around him and to mentor those under him. He was the quintessential professional.
I came to The Art Institute as an assistant curator for African art whose thoughts about and outside my field he sought out and to whom he gave the sense that he truly valued what I had to say. Throughout my career he has been a stalwart supporter and advocate when I have needed him. Over the years he let me know he appreciated my tenure on his staff and our friendship continued long after I left his employ. He was kind, decent and reserved yet there was great feeling underneath. He was an exceptionally classy man who had my admiration and affection. He was important to me for the best reasons. He mattered to my life. All my love to his wonderful family. I embrace them.