Former Virginia Beach First Citizen Dot Wood, pioneering businesswoman and community leader, dies at 87

Dorothy 'Dot' Wood attended college at a time in American society when many women sought higher education with aspirations to find a husband and get their 'MRS degree.'
While Wood did marry the love of her life, Jim, in 1959, she went on to break the glass ceiling and blazed a trail for women throughout Hampton Roads.
A pioneering businesswoman and devoted community leader, Wood died on April 13 at the age of 87. The past First Citizen of Virginia Beach was integral to the establishment of the city's Meals on Wheels program and the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts.
Lisa Baehre, executive director of Sandler Center Foundation, described Wood as one of those people who would move metaphorical mountains to make sure things happened within the city. Wood had helped to raise the funds to build the Sandler Center.
'When she set her sights on something, she went after it,' Baehre said.
Her son Chris, who remembers accompanying his mother on some meal deliveries, said she was 'an absolute champion of the underdog.' In 1974, she had co-founded Virginia Beach Meals on Wheels with Owen Pickett, the late former congressman.
'No one was beneath her. No one was above her,' Chris Wood said. 'She just looked at everybody the same and cared so much about helping and connecting people.'
Wood and her husband established their family home in Virginia Beach in 1965, and she remained fervently in love with her adopted city. A native of Alexandria, Dot Wood had attended Madison College, now known as James Madison University, to study home economics. While family was tightly woven into the fabric of everything she did — she was a room mother, involved in PTA, a Cub Scout leader and later a doting great-grandmother — Wood went on to weave so much more into her life.
In 1978, she founded JD&W, a Virginia Beach-based commercial construction company, back when it was uncommon for women to lead companies, let alone in the predominantly male-run industry.
Wood's firstborn son, Jim, a former Virginia Beach City Council member and vice mayor, recalled his grandfather telling his mother to be careful about starting a company because she would take a job away from a man who needed it to support his family.
'When my mom first started in business, she went to the bank for loans and the banker would call my dad to make sure it was OK,' Jim Wood said. 'It gives you an idea of how different things were back then.'
Nothing deterred Dot Wood. Ever.
'She was always a very strong-willed, stubborn person,' Jim Wood said, stressing it was in a good way.
She was one of the first female members of the Virginia Beach Rotary Club and served as the service organization's first female president.
More than 25 years ago, Wood helped start the Virginia chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women, and she continued to support, advocate for and act as a mentor for women in the industry.
Lisa Murphy, a commercial real estate attorney with Willcox & Savage, spoke fondly of the mentor-turned-friend she spoke with every day. The two met through CREW more than 20 years ago.
'I think it would be hard to find a woman in commercial real estate in Hampton Roads that didn't know Dot Wood and been helped by her in some way,' Murphy said. 'She took everybody under her wing.'
Real estate developer Helen Dragas, president and CEO of the Dragas Cos., met Wood in the late 1990s when she was chair of the Virginia Beach Planning Commission.
'Dot played fairy godmother to us all, embodying guidance, hope and an abundant spirit,' Dragas said. 'She rejoiced in any opportunity to help other women traverse the oft-lonely path she had single-handedly carved in a man's industry.'
Throughout the years, Wood garnered award after award, including First Citizen of Virginia Beach in 1999 by the Jaycees. She nominated Dragas for the same award 10 years later.
'Her nomination was so humbling because she was such an inspirational civic servant-leader,' Dragas said. 'She delighted in elevating other women.'
Dory Wilgus, president and CEO of US Flag and Signal Co., is thankful Wood helped her navigate her way through the construction of her manufacturing facility in Portsmouth years ago. Wood also helped her navigate city life, and Wilgus described Wood as her best friend of more than 40 years.
'If you ever had a problem, you always knew she had your back,' Wilgus said.
Virginia Beach Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson called Wood a pioneer: When women back then only had the opportunities to become a teacher, nurse or secretary, she carved her own career path.
'We have a lot of acquaintances, but she was my true friend,' Wilson said.
A mother to two sons, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, Wood was predeceased by her husband of 63 years.
A celebration of life will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Monday at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Market St., Virginia Beach.
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com

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