Barbara Goodwin the former Executive Director at the Fresno Council of Governments (Fresno COG) passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the age of 71.
Barbara was born on September 5, 1952 and grew up near the Bowles area on the family farm where there was room to roam and learned to drive her older brother’s go cart.
She attended to Pacific Union School and Washington Union High School where she was on the Pep Squad and involved with the Yearbook. She graduated in 1970 and went on to graduate in 1975 Cum Laude from California State University at Fresno majoring in Journalism with an emphasis on Public Relations. In 1973, started working part time at the COG Fresno Council while going to school and transitioning to full time in 1976.
She devoted her professional career to Fresno and the Central Valley. Her brother introduced her to his college friend and roommate, which was to become her future husband. They were married on February 18, 1978. Together they had daughter born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1983. She relished her daughter’s marriage in 2017.
Her job had her travel to many places within California and the United States. She retired June 2008, in 2009 she was diagnosed and treated for Ocular Melanoma in her left eye, which left her blind in that eye. Her later years was diagnosed with dementia. Last Christmas she was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma of the liver. Due to her weakened physical and mental state she could not tolerate the cancer treatment. She spent her last days in the hospital and then in hospice care.
She was an avid reader, loved gardening and love doing needlepoint, particularly of places she saw in Austria. She loved dogs, music, especially tunes she could dance to, even up to her last days and wine.
She took great pride in her daughter’s accomplishments and took numerous trips to see her in San Diego. She loved the Morro Bay and Monterey area. Loved taking vacations with longtime friends. Enjoyed traveling to Scotland, Italy, especially Austria, British Columbia, Hawaii, Oregon, Sedona, San Antonio, Savannah, Key West, Tahoe, Northern California Coast, and many other places.
Barbara was preceded in death by her father and mother Albert and Lorraine Poulsen. She is survived by her husband Edwin, daughter Laura, Son-in-law Sergio Jug, brother Bruce Poulsen and sister-in-law Susan.
She took great pride in her family, friends and being from Fresno and the Central Valley.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Barbara, was a Fresno COG’s Executive Director between 1993 and 2008, was a beacon of inspiration and a cherished friend to all who had the privilege of knowing her; she was an amazing colleague. Barbara’s remarkable journey through life was marked by her unwavering dedication and passion for transportation planning, leaving a lasting mark on Fresno County and beyond.
Barbara’s career at the Fresno Council of Governments (Fresno COG) spanned over 35 years, beginning as a part-time secretary in 1973 and then as an Intergovernmental Service Advisor in 1976. Through her diligence and expertise, she ascended to the role of Planning Project Coordinator in 1976, and then Deputy Executive Director in 1993. She became the agency’s esteemed Executive Director, a position she held with distinction from 1994 until 2008.
Barbara was appointed in 2007 by Governor Schwarzenegger to California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley and received the Excellence in Public Service Award from the Fresno Bee in April 2001. Upon her retirement in 2008, she received awards from the Fresno Business Council and the Kenneth L Maddy Institute of Public Affairs and Mayor Alan Autry and the Fresno City Council declared May 20, 2008, as Barbara Goodwin Day.
Her retirement was also acknowledged by President George Bush, California Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Grey Davis, and California Assembly members including the Honorable Jim Costa, Charles S. Poochigian, Sarah Reyes, and Mike Briggs. The California Assembly passed a resolution in her honor resolved by the Honorable Juan Arambula, Dean Flores, Nicole Parra, Mike N. Villines, and Dave Cordell. Barbara’s visionary leadership and profound commitment to her work were instrumental in shaping the transportation landscape of Fresno County.
Her tireless efforts were invaluable in the establishment of the San Joaquin Valley Regional Policy Council, fostering collaboration on critical issues such as transportation, air quality, and housing. Barbara’s crowning achievements include her pivotal role in the passage of Measure C, a landmark initiative that generated over $2 billion for transportation improvements in Fresno County and leveraged more than $8 billion in federal, State, and local funding. Under her guidance, major infrastructure projects such as the extension or improvement of State Routes 41, 168, 180, and 269, the extension of Manning Avenue west of Fresno, the expansion of Herndon, Willow, Shaw, and Academy Avenues, Friant Road, and Golden State and Veteran’s Boulevards, numerous new bikeways and trails, enhanced public transit services throughout the County, and major improvements at Fresno Yosemite International (FYI) Airport, were realized, improving mobility and connectivity across the region.
Barbara was not only a trailblazer in her professional field but also a beacon of integrity and compassion. As the first woman Executive Director at Fresno COG and one of the pioneering female COG Directors in California, she shattered barriers and inspired others with her exemplary work ethic and unwavering dedication. Her meticulous attention to detail and genuine concern for others endeared her to all who had the privilege of working alongside her.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Barbara was deeply committed to serving her community. She lent her time and expertise to various organizations, including as a board member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Fresno County, Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District, and the Golden Valley Council Chapter of the Girl Scouts. She was also a member of Fresno County’s United Way 20/20 Leadership Committee, the Fresno Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee, and the Rotary Club of Fresno, among others. Her philanthropic endeavors and advocacy for noble causes left a lasting impact on those around her.
Barbara’s legacy will forever resonate in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know and work with her. Her memory will serve as a guiding light for future generations of transportation planners and executive directors, and her contributions will continue to enrich the fabric of the Fresno community for years to come.
A visitation for Barbara will be held on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM at the Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home, 836 E. Nees Ave., Fresno, CA 93720.
A Chapel Service will take place on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 1:00 PM at the Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home, 836 E. Nees Ave., Fresno, CA 93720
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitehurstsullivan.com for the Goodwin family.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.6