Robert John Goodie 88 of Englewood FL passed away June 23, 2020 at Tidewell Hospice. He was born in Orono ME, graduating high school there in 1950. He proudly served as a career veteran in the US Navy submarine service from 1951, retiring in 1971 as a Master Chief. After retiring from the Navy he continued his career in Washington working for the
Department of Energy and Department of Defense. Throughout the years Bob received numerous commendations and awards for his exceptional performance, expertise and managerial guidance. Bob’s second retirement occurred in 1990 from the Department of the Army upon which he moved to Colonial Beach VA to enjoy bicycling throughout the riverside town and applying his talent and skills renovating a cottage into a home. In 1993 he moved to Englewood FL where he continued bicycling, building, renovating and creating a small oasis in his backyard which he affectionately named “The Lewis Street Park”. The world of Washington politics never left him as he was an AVID political follower, watching C-SPAN religiously to stay current on the pulse of the nation. Bob’s success throughout his career as well as on projects he undertook during retirement came from his ability to apply skills learned as boy growing up in Maine. Bob was a man of few words however his written words were always eloquent and heartfelt as shown in the story shared below, a story that Bob wrote for his senior high school graduation. His quick wit, thoughtful insights and amazing work ethic will be missed.
Bob is survived by his brother Phil (Betty) Goodie of Rotunda FL, daughters Denise (Frank) Howard of Maryland and Teri (Tom) Folse of Virginia, several nephews and his longtime companion Laurie Otis of Englewood FL. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Life is What You Make It
BY ROBERT GOODIE
The sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air ate it up. Other seed fell upon the rock, and as soon as it had sprung up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. Another seed fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. Other seeds fell upon good ground, and sprang up and yielded fruit.
We, who leave Orono High School this year, are like the seed in this parable. Some of us will fall by the wayside and be trodden upon, and the vultures of society will thrive upon us. Others will fall upon rock, and as soon as they spring up, they will wither away, because they have no root. That is, they may have high ideals and may strive for success, but the road may seem too rough and because they have not planted their ideals firmly into their minds, they will die soon and join those by the wayside. And still others will fall upon ground and spring up and yield fruit. They, like the rest, had the same opportunities and the same temptations, but they had planted their ideals firmly into their minds and they sprang up and yielded fruits of success.
Which seed will you be? Which seed do you want to be? If you want to be the seed that fell upon the wayside, then just say to yourself that that is what you wish and there you will end up. Or do you want to be the seed that fell upon rock, full of hope but not full of ambition? Or do you want to be the seed that fell upon good ground, a seed rich in ideals and hope, fertilized by ambition, and reaped with success?
It is up to you to make the decision. No one can make it for you.
After reading this story, which seed did Bob want to be? Clearly, he is the seed that fell upon good ground.
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