Todd W. Goodhue

Todd William Goodhue, aged 62, passed away unexpectedly early Sunday morning, April 12th, 2026, in the home that he built. Todd was born on August 8th, 1963, to the late Roland (Bill) and Audrey Goodhue (Hale). Todd was a devoted husband to Caren Goodhue (Tarasevich) for 40 years. They were high school sweethearts, ultimately spending 46 years together, completely in love. Caren and Todd were complementary personalities who created an environment filled with generosity, support, and humor for their friends, family, and furbabies. They were longtime residents of Old Saybrook, CT, and after a decade in Florida, eventually lived in the beautiful house that Todd designed and built himself from the ground up. Todd was a phenomenal, funny, and caring father to Caitlyn Goodhue of New York, NY, and Bethany Goodhue Wabno of Milford, CT, and he was proud to call Bethany's husband, Dan Wabno, his “new son.” Todd leaves behind two brothers: Scott Goodhue of Mentor, OH, and his wife Marcia Trivisonno Goodhue; and Ross Goodhue and his wife Andrea Goodhue (Donnaruma) of Old Saybrook. Todd is also survived by his sister Pamela Briddle (Goodhue) and her husband Jeff Briddle of Old Saybrook, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends scattered between Florida and Connecticut.

After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Southern Connecticut State University, Todd entered the Air Force, living with Caren as newlyweds near the Vance Air Force Base in Enid, OK, before being honorably discharged. When Caitlyn and Bethany were young, Todd worked three jobs so Caren could stay home, spending his days, nights, and on-call hours as an assistant golf professional, behavioral tech at a psych hospital, and manager/handyman of a condominium before finally getting home with enough time to read his daughters to sleep with fantasy stories and tales of adventure. Todd then achieved a childhood dream of becoming a successful PGA Golf Professional, first working at Lochmoor Country Club and Del Tura Golf & Country Club in Florida before settling in to work as the Head Pro at Shennecossett Golf Course in Groton, CT for almost three decades. At Shennecossett (affectionately nicknamed “Shenny”), Todd never hesitated to help someone refine their swing, and he was always ready to speak the language of golf. He proudly finished and self-published a book, The Golf Swing: Form and Function, and even stocked his own Pro Shop while employed at Shennecossett. Todd was also always eager to relay the latest events in the lives of “his girls” to anyone who would listen at Shenny’s Par 4 Restaurant and Bar. There is a vast void left there with his passing. If you ever had the opportunity to know and chat with Todd, your life was truly enriched.

Todd was a true Renaissance man, capable of entertaining a crowd with his quick sense of humor or making a person cry with a reflective comment. Todd had a way of looking at someone and making them feel seen, whether that was with an oft-repeated joke and twinkle in his eye or by lending an empathetic ear. He once even taught himself to speak German in order to better serve and connect with a community of golfing German snowbirds who spent their winters in the Fort Myers area. A brilliant man with a generous heart and unique humor, Todd soared the skies as an Air Force pilot, built a (sometimes) seaworthy wooden boat, and waxed poetic on religious philosophies and Tolkien allegories. He never took himself too seriously, despite having the intellect and leadership qualities to command a sense of gravitas. For his daughters, Todd would hang the moon, then turn it into cheese just to make them laugh.

Above all, Todd was content being home surrounded by his family and pets. He truly was a dedicated father and husband who loved fiercely. Some of Todd's favorite pastimes were belting showtunes and harmonizing with his daughters, and making corny jokes for Caren to roll her eyes at. Todd had a witty, sarcastic, goofy sense of humor, a sharp memory, and a lovely singing voice; when he wasn't singing and playing the piano, he could be heard reciting lines from classic musicals or quoting dialogue from 80’s movies verbatim. Some of his favorites included Singin’ in the Rain, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, A Few Good Men, Top Gun, Caddyshack, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Miracle on 34th Street, The Holiday, and more recently, Last Holiday. Christmas was his favorite time of year. Other than his beloved home, his favorite places to be were Disney World and the White Mountains near North Conway, New Hampshire.

The funny anecdotes, poignant stories, and memories with family and friends are innumerable, and as they play through our minds during this time of grief, Todd’s legacy will forever continue in our hearts. As Rafiki so perfectly said in The Lion King: “He lives in you.”

To celebrate Todd’s memory, family and friends are welcome to attend a memorial service at the First Church of Christ in Saybrook, located at 366 Main St. in Old Saybrook, CT at 11:00am on Friday, April 24th. There will be a reception at Shennecossett’s Par 4 restaurant – a.k.a., Todd's version of “Cheers” – following the service, beginning at 2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Connecticut Humane Society, where Todd and Caren adopted one of their cats, Annie, on their wedding “Annie”-versary on August 17th. Please feel free to share memories and condolences below.