David Weider
David Weider

Thetford Center, Vt. — David “Woody” Rogers Weider, after a brief period of severe depression, took his life on Wednesday, May 31, 2017. He was born on Jan. 13, 1965, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Dudley Rogers Weider and Joan Carol (Downing) Weider. He spent many of his early years living in Alaska, where his father worked for the Public Health Service. He moved to Hanover, N.H., in 1974, where he attended Hanover schools, graduating from Hanover High School in 1983. He graduated from St. Lawrence University in 1987. Woody married his high school classmate, Susan (Payson) Weider in 1991 and they made their home in Thetford, Vt., where, with the help of friends, they built a house on a piece of land given to them by Susie’s parents. They have two children, Ian Dudley Weider and Claire Foley Weider.

He was an avid and extremely accomplished outdoorsman with a life-long love for many sports, including biking, kayaking, skiing, Nordic skating, climbing, hiking and soccer. This winter he spent 14 days on an unsupported kayak trip down the Grand Canyon, and just recently skied one of his favorite runs, Tuckerman Ravine. He was a Nordic Combined Junior Olympic Champion and played soccer at St. Lawrence University where he made deep and abiding friendships. A dedicated amateur photographer, Woody loved music of all kinds and especially enjoyed attending live music festivals. With special friends he built a sugaring operationfrom scratch,where for more than 22 seasons “Weider, McCarthy, Smith & Payson” made “Dr. Dud’s Maple Tap Syrup” (named in honor of his father) in the sugarbush behind his house. It was a hobby that gave him great joy, allowing for friends and family of all ages to join together.

Dave spent the better part of his professional career, 28 years, as an independent sports rep selling Merrell shoes. He was unfailingly friendly and generous to everyone he met and always willing to lend a hand. Woody was a great guy to have around in a pinch: Several years ago, he was able to save the lives of two non-swimmers who were swept away when they fell into Hartland Rapids.

He is survived by his wife, Susie and their children, Ian and Claire; his mother Joan; sisters Mary Weider and Heidi Nichols, their respective spouses Carl Bahnson and Scott Nichols; nieces Cassandra Nichols and Ayla Feia, and nephew Evan Nichols. He was predeceased by his father, Dudley. Woody also leaves behind an enormous amount of wonderful friends.

Services will be Sunday, June 4 at 3:30 p.m. at the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College. A reception will follow at the Dartmouth Outing Club in Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, https://afsp.org.

To view an online memorial and or send a message of condolence to the family, please visit www.rand-wilson.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover.