City Mourns the Passing of State Senator Aaron Woods

April 21, 2025 — The City of Wilsonville mourns the passing of State Senator Aaron Woods, a long-time Wilsonville resident and City board member, who passed away on Saturday in Colorado.

Statement from Wilsonville Mayor Shawn O’Neil

It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the passing of our State Senator, Aaron Woods, who died on Saturday, April 19, 2025, surrounded by his family in Colorado.

Senator Woods was a proud resident of Wilsonville for over 27 years and represented Senate District 13 since 2023. He was first recruited to the area by Tektronix in 1996 and went on to build a remarkable career at Xerox, where he served as a senior executive for more than two decades.

I first met Aaron about 10 years ago when we served together on the City’s Development Review Board. From the very beginning, we struck up a close friendship — often meeting for lunch and spending time at his home with his wife, Shirley. That was just the kind of person Aaron was — generous, welcoming, and warm.

We also participated in the Wilsonville Civics Academy together. Aaron later served on the Wilsonville Planning Commission and was a founding member of the Wilsonville Alliance for Inclusive Community. He also served on the Clackamas Community College Board. For a time, I thought we might both run for City Council. But Aaron was called to a higher purpose: serving as our State Senator.

When I was contemplating whether I should run for mayor, he was one of the first people I called for advice. True to form, Aaron encouraged me to run — and offered his full support.

In the Oregon State Legislature, Senator Woods served with distinction:

• Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Information Management & Technology
• Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Ways & Means Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development
• Member, Senate Committee on Veterans and Emergency Preparedness
• Member, Joint Committee on Transportation

As a leader, Senator Woods accomplished so much for Wilsonville and for Oregon. He was a steady advocate for our city, our schools, and for policies that lifted up working families. He was a featured speaker at the City’s Juneteenth Celebration in 2022.

Senator Woods believed in bringing high-speed Internet service to areas of Oregon without broadband access, understanding that access to information was critical for health and education. His legacy is one of service, integrity, and compassion.

Senator Aaron Woods will be deeply missed—but his impact will continue to shape our community for generations to come.

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