The late Hal Greenwood is seen here cutting a cake made in his honor to mark his tremendous service and dedication to Cook County Higher Education. Staff photo
On November 19, 2020, Hal Greenwood passed away at the Cook County North Shore Hospital in Grand Marais. Hal had been involved in many aspects of both the City of Grand Marais and Cook County. Given the many organizations and causes he was involved with, his greatest passion was education.
As a result of that passion, in 2001, the Cook County School District 166 Education Foundation was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit.
When Hal was a child, he attended a school that struggled to provide for its students. Based on his own experience as a child, and personal research into the benefits of different types of educational experiences on learners, Hal decided to make a long-term difference for students who attend ISD 166 in Cook County.
Hal served as President of the Education Foundation from 2001 until 2019 when he passed the baton over to Ann Sullivan.
Over several years as they served together on the board, Hal learned of Sullivan’s passion for teaching, educational leadership, and overall commitment to youth. He watched her utilize her skills, developing a team approach to managing E.A.T.S., the annual fundraiser for the Foundation. Her sincerity and enthusiasm were qualities Hal thought would help the organization grow and flourish when he finally decided to pass the torch in 2019.
Hal said, when he left, he felt it was the best board ever! He was proud that the board reflected our county, having members from Grand Portage, the Gunflint Trail, and the west end of Cook County.
Hal made certain the board knew that Dave Hanson, a retired teacher and board member, should always be greeting people at the door on the night of E.A.T.S. and Doug Sanders, he said, needed to continue as treasurer due to his attention to detail. Hal always let the board members know what he was thinking, even after he “retired” from the organization he founded.
This fall, the Foundation discussed the pandemic and the fact that it wouldn’t be safe to have E.A.T.S. in March of 2021. Hal conversed with several members of the Board of Directors about that. He made it clear he was concerned for our local restaurants and businesses who struggled during the early part of the pandemic, and that the Foundation certainly couldn’t ask for food, donations, or silent auction items in 2021.
When Hal passed away in November, community members were aware he was involved in many organizations here in the community. They wondered what organization they should donate to in Hal’s memory. Hal’s daughter, Sue, has now shared that donations, in memory of her Dad, are to go to the Education Foundation. The Education Foundation is a significant part of his legacy.
If you plan to write a check in memory of Hal Greenwood, please make out your check to Cook County School District 166 Education Foundation Doug Sanders, Treasurer, P.O. Box 1117, Grand Marais, MN 55604-1117.
On the memo line of the check, please indicate the donation is in memory of Hal Greenwood. Your generous donation will help the Education Foundation achieve its mission: to offer unique experiences to students through innovative instruction and co-curricular programs that cannot be funded by ISD 166 or other sources. Keep Hal’s dream alive, and donate today, in his memory!
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