Victoria Goddard

Victoria (“Vicki”) Goddard died on September 25, 2024 in Santa Monica, California. Vicki was born on June 28, 1942, in New York City, to Neville Goddard and Catherine Willa Van Schmus. Vicki and her family moved to Los Angeles when Vicki was 12 where she started her long association with Harvard- student at the Westlake School for Girls. Vicki graduated in 1964 from Russell Sage College and returned to Los Angeles.

Vicki worked at KCET as Director of Auction where she raised funds for the public television station and accumulated a network of lifetime friends. However, it was back at Westlake School that she found herself most at home, working in multiple capacities, continuing in service to Harvard Westlake for over 25 years. She especially cherished sharing her passion for community service with middle school students, teaching them the importance of making the world a better place than they found it. It was a dedication to which her life was most certainly a testimony.

Vicki gave generously of her time and of herself. Beyond Harvard-Westlake, she was involved with various charities, including Pet Orphans of Southern California. Vicki had an expansive love for dogs that lead many to conclude she was the original dog whisperer. She enjoyed lawn bowling and watching her favorite Dodgers. Vicki’s other passion was the island of Barbados, the birthplace of her father, where she spent many summers as a child. She returned to the island over the years as an adult to visit her beloved cousins and enjoy time in and alongside the warm Caribbean Sea.

Vicki is preceded in death by her parents and her half-brother, Joseph Neville Goddard. She is survived by her extended Goddard family, including many cousins and great nieces and nephews, and life-long friends made through Harvard-Westlake both as a student, a long-time member of the staff, and a dedicated member of the Alumni Board.

The family will hold a celebration of her life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Vicki Goddard to Harvard-Westlake School’s Alumni Scholar Endowment to support financial aid to students, or to Pet Orphans of Southern California.