Louis A. Wood ’52, a prominent commercial attorney in Portland, died on September 10, 2009, in Portland, from complications of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a disease he battled for 29 years.

He was born on April 15, 1930, in Rockville Center, N.Y., and prepared for college at Lisbon (Maine) High School and Gould Academy. He graduated from Bowdoin cum laude, a member of Phi Beta Kappa and president of Theta Delta Chi frater- nity, and from Harvard Law School in 1955. He enlisted in the Navy that year, and served for three years, attaining the rank of lieutenant senior grade. After his discharge, he became an associate of the firm of Verrill, Dana, Walker, Philbrick and Whitehouse (today known as Ver- rill Dana, LLP), and was made a partner within two years. He retired in 2003 after 44 years and became counsel to the firm. He specialized in real estate, commercial law and securities, and represented vari- ous financial institutions, including Maine Savings Bank and Canal Bank. He shared his expertise as a lecturer at the Uni- versity of Maine School of Law and in local real estate classes. He was a charter member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and a fellow of the Amer- ican College of Mortgage Attorneys. He was a member of the American Bar Association, Maine State Bar Association, Cumberland County Bar Association, American Land Title Association, and New England Land Title Association. A longtime resident of Cape Elizabeth, he was instrumental in the town’s purchase of Fort Williams. He was active in the Greater Portland United Way, a member of Cumberland Club, Portland Club, and Portland Country Club, and was a trustee emeritus of Gould Academy. He took up painting after retirement and discovered a surprising talent. He is survived by his wife of eight years, Marty Cole Wood; four daughters, Wendy Wood Theriault, Diann Wood, Pamela Wood Richards, and Amy Wood McLaren; a son, Louis C. Wood; two stepdaughters, Cathy Dulac and Betsy Cole; a stepson, Douglas Cole; 12 grandchildren; two stepbrothers, John Marshall ’50 and Dick Marshall; and a stepsister, Jean Marshall. He was prede- ceased by his wife of 44 years, Carolyn Ruth Claus Wood, whom he married in 1954.