Quinnipiac University Professor Emeritus Joe Woods died peacefully in his home March 12, according to his obituary. Woods was 82 and worked at Quinnipiac for 51 years, until he retired in 2022.
In 1970, Woods came to Quinnipiac as an assistant professor of biology. Woods was later appointed as the chair of the Department of Biology, which he served for three years, and was the dean of the School of Health Sciences for 18 years.
Woods attended St. Joseph’s University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology and later got his PhD in Physiology from Rutgers University.
Even having left the university several years ago, his impact still remains in the community.
As a physical therapy student, Maureen Helgren became “captivated by physiology largely because of him,” she wrote to The Chronicle.
Helgren is now the Director of Anatomy and Associate Professor of Medical Sciences. First as her professor, Woods later became her colleague, friend and lifelong mentor.
“Without his guidance, I may never have pursued a PhD, discovered my love of research, returned to Quinnipiac or had the privilege of serving under one of the kindest deans I have ever known,” Helgren wrote.
Woods’ impact still remains with Helgren.
“I often found myself wandering outside Echlin, following the familiar scent of his pipe, just to stop and talk with him,” Helgren wrote. “His warm, infectious smile is imprinted on my heart; not only because he was a brilliant leader, but because he was, above all, a genuinely kind and generous man.”
Woods has been previously honored for his dedication at Quinnipiac with the “Joseph J. Woods, PhD, Athletic Training/Sports Medicine Outstanding Student Award” being named after him — a decision that was “easy and fitting,” Stephen Straub, associate dean of Academic Operations and Finance and professor of Health and Exercise Science, wrote to The Chronicle.
Straub highlighted that Woods was “instrumental” in the set-up of Quinnipiac’s athletic training education program, around core values in ensuring excellence for students.
Straub worked under and later alongside Woods for over 20 years.
“As he served as a mentor to me, I would seek his ideas and advice,” Straub wrote. “No matter the issue he always came back to those two themes: Can we enact that project in an excellent fashion? And how will it impact our students?”
Woods’ influence in the Quinnipiac and local communities went beyond his love of teaching as well. He held a tradition of dressing in a handmaid Santa Claus outfit each year as a member of the Cheshire community.
“His energy and passion in his character brightened up each holiday gathering,” his obituary reads.
In 2017, Woods delivered an assortment of gifts to children at the Center for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences on Quinnipiac’s North Haven Campus.
“It’s just something I love doing,” Woods told Quinnipiac Today. “I love their faces.”
Woods left an impact on many members of the Quinnipiac community that has shown to not be, and will not be, forgotten.
“He left us with such fond memories and has touched so many lives,” Helgren wrote. “Once again, thank you Joe.”
