The Board of Education on Monday night remembered 2023 New Canaan High School graduate Toby Woods, who died Feb. 21.
Board of Ed Chair Hugo Alves led the elected body in a moment of silence at the start of its regular meeting.
“I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the tragic loss of one of our former students, Toby Woods,” Alves said during the meeting, held in the Wagner Room at NCHS.
“This loss has deeply impacted us all and our thoughts and prayers are with Toby’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time,” Alves continued. “Toby graduated from New Canaan High School last June. I was there when he delivered a wonderful address at our commencement ceremony. I had the good fortune of personally presenting him the annual New Canaan Museum & Historical Society Award for Excellence in History. And I also remember just watching him right, right behind me here some time, not too long ago — an entertaining video of him working at the Town Hall as an intern. We saw Toby excel in everything he was involved in, and he was loved and respected by his peers. He’s described by those who knew him well as kind and supportive of others’ success both in school and in their extracurricular pursuits.”
Alves noted that Woods was a freshman at Williams College, “his first choice among many options,” and referred to college President Maud Mandel’s announcement on the 18-year-old’s passing from the Williamstown, Mass. campus, which included a quote from a music professor at the college.
“ ‘He was a student of quiet brilliance, always engaged and interested, consistently impressive,’ ” Alves read. “ ‘His devotion to learning was so clearly genuine. One day he mentioned he really enjoyed the prelude to an opera we were studying and was trying to learn it on the piano, even though he was primarily a cellist. Somewhat in jest, I invited him to the piano to play and he got up, sat down at the bench and proceeded to play this really difficult piece from memory. The class applauded and Toby blushed and modestly returned to his seat.’ ”
As a district, those in New Canaan Public Schools are “here to support one another and offer our condolences to those who are grieving,” Alves said.
“Our counselors and support staff are available to aid and comfort anyone who needs it,” he said. “And let us all keep his loved ones and our thoughts and prayers as they navigate through this challenging time. So please join me in a moment of silence as we honor the memory of Toby Woods and reflect on the tremendous positive impact he had on our school and our community.”
NCHS Principal Bill Egan also notified the high school community via email following Woods’ passing, calling him “a bright, kind and thoughtful young man with a great future ahead of him.”
Part of the commencement speech that Woods delivered to classmates and attendees at the 2023 NCHS graduation last June is as follows: “So in the end, what is it that really matters? What if we all forgot about this mask we put on to impress others and to make it seem like we’ve got our lives all figured out? What if we forgot about that and gave ourselves permission to be the person we really are? What would that change? So much of our existence is spent catering to others, seeking their approval, and mimicking their values. But our life is our own, and nobody holds the authority to take that away from us, so live your life, pursue what you love, and give yourself the permission to relentlessly pursue your own vision. Take those risks to follow your heart; as my grandmother told me, ‘Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.’ ”
A celebration of Woods’ life will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10 at the First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan. All are welcome.
[Note: The family-approved obituary for Toby Matthew Woods can be found here.]
Thank you so much for this article and for including some of the wise words Toby shared at commencement last year. I remember being struck by his speech and was hoping to hear some of it again. Much love for his family and friends.