Oliver Woodward was the kind of person others were just drawn to.
“He rubbed off and affected so many people without trying to,” coach Dunn Neugebauer said of his former student.
The 21-year-old University of Georgia rising senior, who was also a graduate of Holy Innocents' Episcopal School in Atlanta, died in a rafting accident last week, authorities said.
Head of School Paul Barton said the entire community at Holy Innocents' Episcopal School was deeply saddened.
“Oliver is remembered by all for his patented smile, his good demeanor and his laid back, happy approach to life,” Barton said.
Daniel Forrester, STEAM director, was one Oliver’s varsity football coaches. He shared fond recollections of a gifted and giving young man.
“He wasn’t the fastest nor the slowest back we’ve ever had but he was the best blocking back for sure,” Forrester said. “I think that says a lot about what he felt about his teammates – he always enjoyed when they did well because of his block. He had a great sense of humor and knew just when to lighten the mood. He is honestly one of my favorite players I have ever coached.”
Woodward was spending his summer in Wyoming when he and a group of five friends went rafting on the Snake River, Teton County sheriff’s Sgt. Lloyd Funk said.
No one in the group had on wet-suits or life jackets when they hit a wave, throwing everyone overboard, Funk said.
Woodward’s friends were able to swim to shore.
“But unfortunately Oliver did not,” Funk said.
He went missing on the Fourth of July, and his body was recovered by Star Valley Search and Rescue about 10 a.m. Wednesday. A kayaker found him in a part of the river that reached into Lincoln County, Wyo., Funk said.
Authorities identified Woodward through dental records, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported.
Even in high school, Woodward’s smile was his trademark.
Neugebauer, Woodward’s high school tennis coach, said he would never forget it in a Facebook letter he wrote and directed to his former student.
“In high school boy world — where trash talk was simply king — you never once defended yourself,” Neugebauer said in the tribute. “You just smiled.”
He said it would be difficult to forget one grin in particular.
Woodward hurt his ankle jumping from his girlfriend’s balcony to avoid her parents and had to explain the injured ankle to his coach.
Neugebauer said he asked: “Now Oliver, how exactly did you sprain your ankle?”
He could almost see the wheels spinning in the teen’s head.
“In the end, you said nothing,” Neugebauer wrote, “just gave me an embarrassed grin (and) waved goodbye as you headed off to class.”
In another example, Neugebauer said he remembers teammates teasing Woodward about being late to practice and asking if he was with his girlfriend again.
“The ribbing continued,” the coach wrote.
But Woodward didn’t respond. He just picked up his racket, got in line, hit his forehand, then his backhand, Neugebauer said.
“You didn’t talk bad about people. You never attacked,” Neugebauer said as if to Woodward. “There was a loving strength in your interactions with people regardless of situation.”
And always, a smile.
“You taught me that,” Neugebauer said.
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