Timothy Roger Wood
Timothy Wood Obituary
Timothy (Tim) Roger Wood passed away from complications due to a neurological disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), on July 12, 2021, at his home in Big Bear Lake. He was surrounded by those he loved the most. He was 73.
Tim was born April 13th, 1948, in Los Angeles, CA to his parents, Gordon & Margaret (Peggy) Wood. He had 1 sister and 3 brothers, growing up in the San Fernando Valley. He married Susan Costello in September of 1971. They had two sons, Travis & Tyler, and lived in the Chatsworth, CA. Tim graduated from Granada Hills High School in 1966, and attended some business courses at Pierce Junior College. Tim served in Vietnam from 1968-69 as a Navy Seabee, operating heavy machinery. Upon returning home, he went to work as a journeyman pressman, like his father, at the Long Beach Press Telegram.
Tim moved to Big Bear Lake in 1976 to start his career in real estate. It proved to be his calling and he remained in Big Bear the rest of his life. Tim started with Spencer Real Estate, learning the business from the best, John Ricks and Marie Hillard. In a very short time, he became one of the top real estate agents in the town. Applying the same work ethic he learned as a pressman, he simply just outworked the competition. He was the first in the office, and the last to leave for many years. In 1984 Tim joined his childhood friend, John Brisson, at Mountain Gallery Realtors. Shortly thereafter, Tim took ownership of the company, and it became Coldwell Banker, Mountain Gallery Realtors. He remained there until his retirement in 2015.
Tim was very successful at real estate and was involved with either the development or the sales of virtually all of the major subdivisions in Big Bear throughout his career. He gained national notoriety and many sales awards. He was a natural coach/mentor and became a business and life coach in the early 1990’s. He was one of the most sought-after coaches in the industry due to his fiery passion and perspective on goal setting. He loved helping people realize their potential and seeing their growth. His impact on the lives of many individuals in his community, and those across the country, cannot be overstated. He changed many people’s lives for the better.
Tim cared very much about the Big Bear community, and he gave back, BIG TIME! He believed that children were the most precious asset in the community. In the late 80’s Tim was involved in the creation of Operation Breakthrough, a local agency which provides alcohol and drug prevention and treatment programs. More recently, he was the creator of The Lighthouse Project, which sponsored several programs in support of his vision to cultivate a “child honoring community” in Big Bear. Tim was one of the most notorious anonymous donors in the Valley, giving far and wide, from the Man About Town fundraisers, the Catholic Church, Big Bear Discovery Center, the coats for kids (with Simeon Prophet), and many more, he was a true philanthropist. He would help anyone who asked for it and didn’t want anything in return.
Tim loved gardening, exercising, hiking, and traveling. He lived on Windy Point along the North Shore for nearly 20 years. He felt most at peace and comfortable there. For many of those years, he could be seen outside tending to his expansive yard and Shasta daisies, running along the North Shore of Big Bear and hiking Grey’s Peak or other various trails. Tim hiked the Inca Trail, summited Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and walked the 500-mile Camino de Santiago. He enjoyed spending the winter months in the Kaanapali, Maui with his family and friends. He loved spending time with his 2 sons, daughter in law, and his grandkids more than anything else. In his final years, nothing gave him more joy that attending his grandson, Dax’s, baseball games.
Tim was Catholic and could be seen at the 8 AM mass almost every day. He never talked much about his faith, but it was something he leaned on throughout his life.
Tim is survived by his sons, Travis Wood, and Tyler Wood (Ashley); his grandchildren, Daxton, Tristan, and Drienne; his aunt and God-mother Patricia (Trisha) Radis, his sister Terri Rizzo (Nick), his brothers Dan Wood (Cindy), Andy Wood (Teresa), and Kevin Wood; his nieces and nephews Kristen, Tracie, Danny, Mitch, Katie, Michelle, Sara, Peter, Shawn, Alexandra and Seth, and the loving mother of his sons, Susan Costello.
Tyler and Travis extend heartful gratitude and love to Tim’s closest inner circle of friends who cared for him and nurtured him during his years-long battle with PSP. Tyler and Travis’ mother, Susan (Susie) Costello spent countless hours with Tim giving him consistent and unrelenting companionship and care. Tim’s life-long best friend, John Brisson, visited him nearly daily, bringing him friendship and milkshakes. Dana and Simeon Prophet were like guardian angels, watching after him, caring for any details they could as the years of Tim’s battle went on. The family is forever grateful to the courageous hearts who acted as Tim’s caregivers, allowing him to stay in his home-Christina, Brenda, Laura, Amanda, Karen, Leo, and others----thank you, you do the work of Saints.
Tim followed the mantra that we must be the change we want to see in this world. Change starts with each and every one of us. His legacy will live on in all who knew him.
Catholic mass will be held 12 PM on July 31, 2021, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (42242 North Shore Drive, Big Bear CA 92314) with a celebration of life to be held thereafter at Shay Meadow Ranch and Resort (1368 Shay Road, Big Bear City, CA 92314) from 2 PM - 5 PM. All are welcome to help celebrate Tim’s life.
Zoom link to attend virtually.
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