Harrowing inside story of why world-changing LeapFrog toy founder chose to end his life at just 72… by the son who knew him best

When he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s seven years ago, iconic toymaker Mike Wood had a simple request of his beloved family: don’t let me languish in the darkness.  

And so when the time came, Wood’s family traveled with him to Dignitas, the Swiss assisted suicide clinic, to be with him as he ended his life. 

Now, in an soul-bearing interview with Daily Mail, his son Mat reveals how his father fought bravely against the disease until his last breaths, and how he remained to be ‘in control’ until the very end.  

‘He was a great dad,’ Mat Wood, 37, a building contractor who lives in Costa Rica, told Daily Mail in a heartfelt interview as the world mourned his famous father. 

‘He definitely left his legacy and affected lots of people in a good way.’ 

Mat vividly remembers his father’s words when he received his diagnosis. 

‘He said, “Hey, listen, when I can’t recognize you anymore, I don’t want to be here.”‘

‘I said, “of course, Dad, I completely understand. And whenever that time comes, we’ll do whatever you want to do.”‘

His father, he noted, was adamant he ‘wanted to be in control’ during his final days.

‘I could understand where he was coming from – not wanting to spend five years in a chair, in a gray cloud, not knowing what was going on,’ said Mat.

‘He did everything he could to slow the disease down. As a son, you just want your dad to be happy as much as he can. Towards I could just see it getting more and more difficult for him.

‘He never wavered on his decision. He didn’t want to sit there and not know what was going on.

‘So when the time finally came, he made the decision and we went to Switzerland.’

‘We were all there as a family. I don’t know if it was beautiful, but it was exactly what he would have wanted.

In a tear-jerking, hand-written note to his father the day before his passing, Mat wrote: ‘You have been my superhero for as long as I can remember. 

‘You have given me superpowers that will stay with me for life.’

It was Mat who inspired his father’s genius – and led to a global phenomenon that helped countless children learn how to read. 

As a toddler, Mat recognized the alphabet but struggled when it came to pronouncing letter sounds. 

Not wanting Mat to lag behind academically, Wood experimented with an electronic toy that played sounds when children squeezed plastic letters.

He based the idea on greeting cards that play music when opened, and worked with engineers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and an education professor at his alma mater, Stanford, and developed the Phonics Desk, released in 1995.

Early investors Michael Milken and Larry Ellison, billionaire founder of Oracle and their joint company Knowledge Universe took majority stake in LeapFrog in 1997 which boosted research development on new products.

Wood then acquired a company that developed the prototype of what became the LeapPad, which he insisted be sold for no more than $49 at Toys R Us stores across the US.

The blue and green colored clamshell contained interactive spiral-bound storybooks and youngsters could use a pointer to touch a word or an item in the story to hear it spelled and sounded aloud.

Success came quickly. 

The LeapPad exploded in popularity and became the best selling toy of the 2000 holiday season.

‘It took off and within 10 years he was kind of pushed out for a more corporate-oriented CEO,’ recalled Mat.

‘Then everybody involved would tell you LeapFrog was never the same because he truly cared.

‘It was his baby and it was for the right reasons. And LeapFrog was big. 

‘Within, I think, seven years, it passed Lego’s worldwide revenue. It became the fourth largest (toy) company in the world.’

Despite the huge commercial success of the wholesome company, Wood was at heart ‘just a dad that wanted to help his son succeed.’ 

‘He had the smallest office in the LeapFrog headquarters – open door. 

‘He wasn’t a flashy guy at all. But just a super, super kind individual and a father that really cared.’

‘He cared more about that it was done for the right reasons and it had a real impact on millions of kids.’ 

But ‘his impact on me was more as a dad – the world’s best dad, super supportive,’ Mat continues. 

‘He was a very proud dad. He didn’t miss any of my sporting events. You always knew he had your back unconditionally. 

‘He was like that to a lot of people – he lifted a lot of people.’

Mat is grateful for the many years he had with his beloved father. 

‘I got to spend a lot of time with him at the end, as well as his brothers. His life was too short, no doubt. But he already gave everything he possibly could to me to make me who I am.

‘The only people that were kind of getting robbed at this point were his grandkids, my children. Ideally they would have had another 10 good years to see him.’

Under Swiss law, people may help others to die as long as their motives are not selfish, such as for financial gain.

Legislation enacted in 1942 states a person wishing to die must be of sound mind – but they do not need to be terminally ill or have any medical conditions.

Dignitas is Switzerland’s most well known assisted suicide clinic. 

Hundreds have been helped to die there over the last 20 years. Strict rules dictate that clients must be terminally ill, suffering extreme pain or living with an ‘unendurable disability’.

Assisted suicide in the U.S. is still relatively rare today but growing in acceptance.

It is legal in 11 states; California, Maine, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, New Jersey, Vermont and the District of Columbia.  

Mat is married to wife Emily and the couple have three children aged four, three and two who were doted on by their grandfather.

‘I’ve got a beautiful, happy family, and I credit a lot of where I am to my father,’ said Mat.

A statement issued by LeapFrog after Wood’s passing described him as ‘an innovative leader whose passion to find a new way to help children 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.’

Wood divorced first wife Susan Cotter Wood, Mat’s mother, when their child was three. 

He is also survived by second wife Leslie Harlander, his high school sweetheart whom he married in 2021, and brothers, Tim and Denis.

‘He was an old school, do the right thing guy – super honest – who made anyone around him feel better about themselves,’ added Mat. 

‘It’s pretty incredible.’