Chester Corbin Wood II ’76
Chester Corbin Wood II ’76, M.D., passed away February 20. Chet attended Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire, prior to coming to Dartmouth. At Dartmouth he met his future wife, Florentine Thomas ’76, during the spring of their freshman year. Chet majored in psychology but found time, despite his major and premed studies, to take several upper-level Latin courses, at which he excelled. Chet graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine in 1980. He completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, followed by a fellowship in allergy and immunology at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Upon completion of his fellowship in 1986, Chet accepted a position as a research scientist with Boehringer Ingelheim in Ridgefield, Connecticut, where he remained until his passing. Chet served as mentor, scientist, educator, and friend, and played a key part in the development of numerous drugs in the field of respiratory medicine, allergy, immunology, and infectious disease. Chet was executive director in early respiratory medicine at the time of his passing. Chet enjoyed the simple things in life—a beautiful fire, a great hamburger, walks with his dog Zeus along the Shepaug River or Lake Waramaug. A typical day for Chet would be work and international teleconferences. When it was time for lunch, he bought the paper and sauntered over to the Split Rail Restaurant, where they served him no matter when he showed up. Chet is survived by his wife of 37 years, Florentine, son Stephen ’05, and daughter Sumintra ’06.
