Don Goodman Memorial Fund

My name is Rachel Newman, I have been friends of Don and Mary Goodman for a couple years shy of a decade now. Don’s “daughter” he never knew he wanted but that I have been fortunate enough to grow such an amazing bond and relationship with. Unfortunately on November 1st Don unexpectedly passed away and was without life insurance due to unforeseen circumstances with the company he had the policy with. Thus, leaving his wife with not only the grief of losing her husband but the financial burden and stress that can come with losing a loved one.

In the time I have known Mary and Don they have been the most caring, empathetic, amazing humans and like a second set of parents I have been lucky enough to know. They have truly blessed my life and the lives of those around them.

Mary was an educator with the Catholic Church for thirty years until more recently to serve private families and their children. Don and Mary’s dedication to community, those they loved, and a helping who they could along the way serves as a reminder that we are all capable of that kind of love and service to others.

Don dressed up as Batman for all Mary’s classes, for their children, and for their friends over the years. Most recently he made his last wish and ambition to overcome his health issues to sing karaoke, crowd please and prove he still held a wild and ambitious side that has been present but maybe buried with the burden of chronic health conditions. Needless to say, he proved to himself and everyone else he still “had it” and put on an “epic” performance.

This is a family that has given… given humor, compassion, healing, coaching, advice, a helping hand, or hug to anyone in need at any given time. I can speak to this first hand, and can only hope to lessen the load to an amazing woman, new widow and someone I love so deeply!

With the loss of a loved one, specifically a husband and patriarch of the family, unexpectedly I’d love nothing more than to ease my amazing friend/family members pain and level of stress to be able to focus

on what Is most important.. her family.. her grief.. and how to live without the love of her life and husband.

God bless any and all of you for reading this and your giving heart if you see fit..to help someone who would give the shirt off their back, blessed my momma for the last time after she passed and has been a staple in not only my family and my life, but the many children she has taught or Don coached over the years and anyone lucky enough to know them or their family.