With deep sadness we announce the passing of Stephen I. Goodman on Friday July 27th at the age of 74. He was born on March 6, 1944, in Portland, Maine, the son of Dorothy and Arnold Goodman.
Stephen worked at his grandfather’s paper recycling company, William Goodman & Sons, from the time he was a teenager until his retirement. Stephen attended Deering High School and graduated from Bryant College. He returned to Portland and married his high school sweetheart, Ann Judith Silverman, and raised three children, Elissa, Bill, and Sandi.
Stephen always had a passion to help the Jewish community especially the Shaarey Tphiloph Synagogue and the Jewish Community Center. He extended a helping hand to anyone who needed it no matter their circumstance in life and provided guidance and positive support without hesitation. He was instrumental in running a Bingo program for 25 years which became significant source of funds for both organizations.
He was President of the Jewish Community Center’s Men’s Club and was a player and a coach for their softball team until the age of 53. Stephen’s passion for sports led him to initiate the first girls’ softball Little League 1 in 1979 and Portland Senior Softball League in 1981 so his daughters could enjoy a sport he loved. He also loved golf and with his brother, Myles, initiated the 2nd oldest Jimmy Fund Golf Tournament in history which ran for 27 years. His son, Bill, has followed in his footsteps by playing for and coaching Deering’s Varsity golf team for many years.
He was predeceased by his parents, Arnold and Dorothy, his brother, Myles his former wife Ann Goodman and former wife Carole Darling. He is survived by his daughter, Elissa B. Pratt, her husband Michael of Greenfield, MA, grandchildren Eric and Andrew; son, William J. Goodman, his wife Jodie of Falmouth, grandchildren Aaron and Anna; daughter, Sandi S. Goodman-Brown, her husband Larry of Portland, grandchildren Jessica and Maxwell; stepdaughters Kimberly DiBiase, Theresa DiBiase, step grandchild Crow Dusk, stepsons David Darling and Chris DiBiase. He was also thankful for his friend and caretaker Alma Edsall.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday August 1, 2018, at Temple Beth El, 400 Deering Avenue, Portland. Rabbi Gary Berenson will officiate. Burial will follow at Mount Sinai Cemetery, Hicks Street, Portland. A period of mourning will be observed Wednesday evening from 4-8 p.m. and Thursday, August 2nd from 4-8 p.m. at Falmouth County Club. Please visit wwwjonesrichbarnes for further information and to sign Stephen’s guestbook.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Stephen’s memory to Southern Maine Jewish Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 251, Portland, Maine 04112
