Natalie C. Goodman

Natalie C. Goodman passed away peacefully in Redwood City, CA after a short hospitalization on October 23, 2022. A life-long learner, she was born in Cleveland, OH to Benjamin and Bess Cohan and, after graduating from Ohio State University, married Philip Goodman in 1950. After living in Corning, NY and Washington, DC, her family eventually settled in Lexington, MA. There, she and Philip raised three children, and she restarted her education and training in psychology. At a time when it was quite rare for women, especially mothers, to pursue advanced degrees, she entered a unique, part-time graduate program that enabled her to earn a doctorate in education at Harvard University in 1969. She then conducted research at the Radcliffe Institute and pursued a long and productive career as a clinical psychologist. She worked mostly with children and families in the Boston area and in Bethesda, MD, where she lived from 1979 to 1987. In 1976, Natalie co-founded Affiliates for Adult Development (AAD), a counseling agency. From 1987 until her retirement, she worked as a school psychologist in Lexington, MA. Throughout her life, she formed deep and enduring relationships with colleagues.

In addition to her profession as a school psychologist, she mentored nieces, friends, and many other women seeking careers in psychology. In retirement, she volunteered in schools and developed and taught courses on memory to older adults. Natalie was especially proud of her service work with the police department consulting with them to improve responses to domestic violence incidents.

Although reluctant to be separated from her extended network of old and new friends, she moved to California to be near daughter Miriam and sister Arlene. Once there, she kept in touch with Boston friends. She also found joy in volunteering in schools helping first graders to become better readers, joining book clubs, continuing her practice of memoir writing. She was strongly connected to many folks who cared for her in California, especially Asi Varo, who was with her through coronavirus pandemic waves. During this time, Mr. Varo ensured she could connect virtually with two school kids for weekly reading sessions, bringing lightness and giggles to all.

She will be deeply missed by family and friends across the country, including her daughters and their partners, Marcia E. Goodman (Hiroyoshi Noto) and Miriam B. Goodman (David Lenzi), and by her daughter-in-law, Janet Wagner. She was predeceased by her son, Kenneth H. Goodman and husband, Philip Goodman. Natalie is survived by sister, Arlene Silverman, and was predeceased by sister Shirley and brother Harold. She is also survived by five grandchildren — Akana Noto (Samuel Krumholz), Eli Noto (Sandy Noto), Lillian Goodman, Abigail Goodman, and Marc Lenzi. Just four weeks ago, Akana gave birth to a great-grandchild, Satsuki Krumholz-Noto. Time with grandchildren was precious to Natalie, whether hanging out on the deck in Cape Cod or doing homework afterschool with Lily and Abby in Boston or Marco in California. She was an audience regular at the grandkids’ events - music, dance and sports, and most recently, Marco’s quartet at Jazz brunch in the California sun.

Graveside services will be held at the Westview Cemetery, 520 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA on Sunday October 30, 2022 at 12 noon. Please direct questions to [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation in honor of Natalie Goodman to your favorite charity.