MaryAnne Spencer Goodman died on December 16, 2022 in Gastonia, NC at the age of 91. She was a native of Gastonia, born in 1931 to Roscoe S and Julia Stewart Futch Spencer. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Julia Stewart Spencer.
MaryAnne graduated from Gastonia High School in 1950 as valedictorian and as editor of the 1950 Spinner annual and Fine Yarns newspaper. She was a cum laude graduate of Women’s College of the University of North Carolina, where she held membership in Pi Kappa Lambda, an honorary scholastic music society, and Golden Chain, an honorary campus leadership organization. She was campus chairman of the National Students Association and was a clarinetist with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra.
After graduation, MaryAnne received a Fulbright Scholarship to England’s Trinity College of Music in London, where she studied and performed British solo and chamber music. Upon returning from London, she attended Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, where she studied clarinet and received a Master of Music degree in music literature. A recording of her recital is in the Eastman archives. She recorded with the Eastman Symphonic Wind Ensemble on the Mercury label and was a member of the Rochester Musicians Association and the American Federation of Musicians.
MaryAnne taught music in the public schools of Seattle, WA and Hagerstown, MD. She studied library science in graduate school at the University of Southern California and worked as a reference librarian at the Hollywood Library in Los Angeles before marrying Louis Goodman and giving birth to their daughter. Upon separation, she returned to Gastonia with her daughter, lived with her mother and sister, and worked for and retired from the Gaston County Public Library system.
MaryAnne belonged to First United Methodist Church, where earlier in life she was an active choir member. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and had a lifelong interest in science, nature, books, and music. As a reference librarian, she enjoyed research and assisting people with their individual quests for information.
She is survived by her daughter, Henrietta Spencer Goodman, and her grandchildren Cole Spencer Brooks and Scott Spencer Chaussee of Missoula, MT.
Memorials may be made to the George Walker Center for Equity and Inclusion in Music at Eastman School of Music: https://www.rochester.edu/adv/eastman-centennial/the-centennial-campaign/ways-to-give/ (or by mail: Office of Advancement, Eastman School of Music, 26 Gibbs Street, Rochester, NY 14604).
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.carothersfuneralhomegastonia.com for the Goodman Family.
