Dr. Stephen Cotter Woodward's Obituary
Dr. Stephen Cotter Woodward, 89, passed away on March 19, 2025, in Sandy, Utah, where he recently moved to spend the last years of his life close to his son and grandchildren.
Born on July 19, 1935, in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Woodward pursued a distinguished career in medicine and education. While studying at the Emory University School of Medicine, he met Jacqueline Johnson of West Point, GA, and they married in 1957. He graduated from the Emory University School of Medicine in 1959 and furthered his expertise in pathology through the Emory University Combined Clinical Program. From 1965 to 1967, he expanded his knowledge by studying biometry and biostatistics at the NIH Graduate School under Jerome Cornfield.
Dr Woodward served as captain in the U.S. Army at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research from 1962 to 1964 before transitioning into academia. He was a professor at Georgetown University from 1964 to 1980 before being appointed Professor of Pathology at the University of Utah and Chief of Pathology at the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center from 1980 to 1985. His career continued with leadership roles as professor at Vanderbilt Medical School and Chief of Pathology at the VA Medical Center in Nashville. Additionally, in 1998, he joined Meharry Medical College as a professor to provide undergraduate instruction in pathophysiology. In 2001, he was appointed Chief of Pathology for the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, further cementing his legacy in medical education and research. Dr. Woodward ended his impressive career as professor emeritus at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
Beyond his professional achievements, Stephen was known for his brilliance and strong presence as a father. He deeply loved his wife, and cherished his children. He also loved his dogs, and tolerated the family cat a bit. He was an avid golfer, always chasing the perfect swing; an amateur astronomer particularly interested in telescopes, which he started building at a young age; and a lover of baroque music that he spent years trying to master on his beloved harpsichord. His family fondly recalls vacations for fishing and cross country skiing, and many weekends spent flying kites.
Dr. Woodward is predeceased by his beloved wife Jacqueline, and is survived by his children Warren (Alicia) Stephen Nathaniel Woodward of Sandy, UT, and Margaret Alston Woodward of Nashville, TN. He will be inurned alongside his wife in their columbarium niche in Christ Church Cathedral in a private ceremony later this summer.
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