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LeapFrog Founder Mike Wood Dies by Assisted Suicide After Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
Mike Wood, the innovative creator of LeapFrog, the well-known educational electronic toy company, has passed away at the age of 72. Tragically, Wood chose physician-assisted suicide following a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. His groundbreaking work with LeapFrog revolutionized childhood learning, making his passing a significant loss for educators and families alike.
Wood concluded his life on April 10, according to reports, with the procedure performed by a doctor from Dignitas, a Swiss non-profit organization, in Zürich. He was surrounded by his family during his final moments.
A Decision Amidst Illness
His brother informed The New York Times that Wood opted to end his life to avoid the further progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Under Swiss law, assisted suicide is permissible if the motive is not selfish, such as financial gain through inheritance. Unlawfully aiding someone in ending their life can result in a prison sentence of up to five years.
LeapFrog’s Legacy
LeapFrog Enterprises released a message on Instagram commemorating Wood’s impact:
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- “We are saddened by the loss of LeapFrog founder, Mike Wood.”
- “He was an innovative leader whose passion to find a new way to help his child learn led to something remarkable.”
- “His passion was transformed into a company that has helped millions of children learn to read, and so much more. We loved working with Mike and are honored to continue what he started.”
From Law to Learning: The Genesis of LeapFrog
Wood, originally from California, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University in 1974 and a law degree from the University of California Law San Francisco (Hastings College of the Law). He practiced law for several years before becoming a father.
His son, Mat, struggled with reading at age 3, which motivated Wood to create a prototype that would eventually transform into a top-selling educational toy.
Drawing inspiration from musical greeting cards, Wood invented LeapFrog, an electronic toy that vocalized the sounds of plastic letters when touched by a child.
The Rise of LeapFrog Enterprises
In 1995, Wood, alongside engineers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and an education professor at Stanford, established LeapFrog Enterprises. The company began by manufacturing the Phonics Desk, designed to establish a connection between letters and sounds for young learners.
By 1997, Oracle founder Larry Ellison and investor Michael R. Milken were so impressed with LeapFrog that they acquired a majority stake through their educational services company, Knowledge Universe.
Knowledge Universe’s investment facilitated the creation of new educational toys. Wood later acquired a company to develop LeapPad, a user-friendly computer resembling a book, featuring early touch screen technology and interactive pages. When pressed, these pages would spell out or verbalize words from inserted storybooks.
Wood insisted that the LeapPad be priced affordably, costing no more than $49, according to Bob Lally, former president of LeapFrog’s SchoolHouse Division.
“His vision of how this technology and his relentless drive to get the retail cost below $50 was the key to LeapFrog’s success as the LeapPad launched the following year to amazing success,” Lally noted.
LeapFrog’s Success and Expansion
The LeapFrog LeapPad emerged as the top-selling toy of the 2000 holiday season, driving the company to develop other educational tools focused on subjects like math and geography.
By 2001, LeapFrog products had reached nine million homes and thousands of schools. By 2008, over 30 million LeapPads and associated products had been sold worldwide, according to The New York Times.
Leapfrog’s former executive director of entertainment, Chris D’Angelo, remembered Wood as “demanding, but he brought out the best in us.”
“I can still hear him say, ‘This is an A. How can we make it an A+?’ We’d all grumble and go back to the drawing board—but always returned with something better,” D’Angelo recalled.
“He taught me that extra effort is worth it when you’re chasing a huge vision. He helped shape who I am as a creator, a leader, and a person.”
Later Years and Reflections
Wood stepped down from LeapFrog in 2004 but continued his commitment to early childhood education by founding SmartyAnts, Lally mentioned.
He also volunteered as a reading teacher at a local school near his home in California.
In a 2014 interview with the Wall Street Journal, Wood explained that he retired due to the stress of managing a major company.
“In 2003, we had 1,000 employees, $650 million in revenue, $60 million in earnings, and I had a headache every day. There would be four or five problems on my desk every day that had no good answer — you had to pick the least worst answer.”
Wood’s Family
Wood is survived by his wife, Leslie Harlander, his brothers, Tim and Denis, his son, Mat, and three grandchildren.