Barnett Maurice Goodstein

Barnett (Barney) Goodstein, 95, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2016 after a brief illness and a life well lived. Preceding him in death was his wife of 63 years, Mira Brodsky Goodstein and his parents, Arthur Louis and Viola Esther Goodstein, of blessed memory, and his brother and his wife, Alvin (Sadie Rose) Goodstein. He is survived by his three daughters, Pamela (Jeffrey), Heather (Robert), and Robin, and seven grandchildren, Ben, Emily, Rebecca, Emma, Seth, Vance and Allie, and niece, Judith (Richard) and nephew, Gerald.

A fifth generation US citizen, Barney was born in Dallas on October 1, 1921 and graduated from Forest Ave. High School. He was a staunch supporter of public schools and proudly served on the Dallas County School Board for many years. After receiving both a Bachelor and Master’s degree from the University of Texas by age 21, Barney enlisted in the US Army Air Corp. He shared many adventure stories from his time stationed in China during WW II. One mission took him “over the hump” in the Himalaya, along with his Air Corp buddies. Another companion, a monkey they adopted along the way, needed the oxygen to keep from passing out. Barney also met his wife-to-be, Mira, a Russian living in China with her parents in Shanghai at a Jewish wedding, where he and his buddies were attending after commandeering a jeep for the night.

Moving to Dallas after the war, Barney and Mira were married at Temple Emanuel by Rabbi David Lefkowitz. Living in Madison Wisconsin for several years, Barney completed course work for his PhD in economics. Moving back to Dallas, Barney received his law degree from SMU, and practiced real estate law for more than 50 years. He was 86 before he fully retired. The family enjoyed summers in Colorado and visited many national parks. Dedicated Democrats their whole life, Barney and Mira supported social justice issues to promote equality for all. Barney took his responsibility seriously for “Tikkun Olam” – to heal the world.

A graveside service will be held January 2 at 10 am at Temple Emanuel cemetery, followed by a reception at Windsor Senior Living.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery Alabama 36104, or the North Texas Food Bank, 4500 S. Cockrell Hill Rd, Dallas, Tx, 75236.