Subj: MAIL CALL NO. 515 517TH PRCT July 20, 2003
Date: 07/20/2003 9:11:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Ben517
BCC:

Subj: Al Goodman obituary 
Date: 7/19/2003 8:07:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: AARGoodman@aol.com
To: mailcall@517prct.org


Ben, attached is the obituary written by Al Goodman's children.  Thank you for your kind words and for informing the rest of the group.


Allan Ross Goodman, Sr.
October 10, 1924 - July 17, 2003
 

Al Goodman was born in Chicago, Illinois and reared in Oak Park, Illinois, where he graduated from Oak Park-River Forest Township Union High School.

Al volunteered as a paratrooper in the US Army during World War II.  During his training, he married his high school sweetheart, Alice Williams Bauld, on January 14, 1944.  He served in the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team which participated in the invasion of Italy, Southern France, the Battle of the Bulge, and the occupation of Berlin. He played football for the 82nd Airborne Division in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, 1945. He was decorated with the Bronze Star for heroism under fire.

After the war, Al earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois. He and Alice moved to California in 1949, and to Bakersfield in December, 1954.  He was President of Griffin Steel and Fabricators.  The company was responsible for replacing many major structures damaged by the 1952 earthquake, including the County Administrative Offices and the new Bakersfield College Campus.  The company went on to help build many of the major buildings that became Bakersfield landmarks.

Service to the community was a vital part of Al's life.  He was always an active leader in every organization he joined.  He served as President of Bakersfield East Rotary from 1973-1974, and was named Rotarian of the Year, 1983-1984.  He also received the Paul Harris Fellowship. He was a member of  the Masonic Order and a Shriner. He was a member of SIRS, Sons in Retirement.

In his retirement, Al worked with other veterans to collect and publish the soldiers'  stories.  Al's remarkable memory contributed many stories to books such as Gerald Astor's Battling Buzzards  and Clark Archer's Paratrooper's Odyssey.  He served as President, 596th Combat Engineer Company, 1981-1983, and President, 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team Association, 2002-2003.  He and Alice attended reunions throughout the country.  More than anything, he valued the lifelong bonds and friendships formed while serving his country.

Al was a longtime member of Bakersfield Country Club, serving on the Board of Directors, and will be remembered as an honest golfer, always in possession of  THE RULES OF GOLF.  In recent years he was a member of  Rio Bravo Country Club, enjoying the fellowship of  the McClure Group. Al served as mentor and role model for golfer etiquette for his children and their spouses, as well as anyone else who had the privilege of playing with him.

Survived by his best friend and wife of 59 years, Alice; brother John and his wife Terri; sister Virginia Loyola; daughter Ann and husband Robert Parrish, grandchildren Laurel and Robb; daughter Mary and husband German Pereira, grandchildren Greg, David, Diana, and great granddaughter Madeline; son Allan, Jr., and wife Marian, grandchildren Brian and Melissa; daughter Beth and grandchildren Mary Beth and Russell. He was recently preceded in death by his sister Mary.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Assistance League of  Bakersfield, or your favorite charity.


We will miss our husband and father and will feel his presence forever.  Memorial services are pending publication.


Allan Goodman
1924-2003


Excerpt from Battling Buzzards by Gerald Astor. 1993, October 2001, Dell paperback printing, pp. 240- 241:

"Allan Goodman discovered engineer Geroge Ayling and several others removing a detonator from an unexploded 500-pound aerial bomb. 'I gave them hell for risking it because it was in an open area and defusing the thing wasn't necessary'.

A day later, the knowledge gained by Ayling aided Goodman. 'I encountered another one of those bombs at a bridge approach.  It had a timing device that seemed to have malfunctioned. I cleared the area and disarmed this one myself.  I almost jumped out of my skin when at the critical moments, a local couple bicycled past and shouted, 'Bon jour!'  They had slipped by the roadblock but when they saw what I was doing and the look on my face, they pedaled away fast.  Lieutenant Zavattero wrote up a citation and I received a Bronze Star.  That embarrassed me some, since George and the others had disarmed a similar bomb just for the experience'. "
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Date: 7/18/2003 8:41:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: bobx517@juno.com

Howard called me today about flowers or a memorial contribution in memory
of our brother and good friend, Al Goodman .He asked me to contact all of
you for your approval. He said he was sure everyone would be of one mind
but he wanted to make sure. Al's oldest daughter will contact him this
evening after consulting with all the family who are on their way to
Bakersfield. He will contact me when he receives the word. There are four
of who don't have email. I will call them this evening. As Howard would
say, Soft Landings.  Bob Christie
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Subj: Our Loss 
Date: 7/19/2003 1:47:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: hhensleigh@earthlink.net
To: AARGoodman@aol.com
CC: Ben517@aol.com, bobx517@juno.com

Dear Alice, Beth, Mary, and others in the family,In honor of Al’s contributions to the Combat Team and the Association, we wish to make a contribution to a charitable organization of your choice, or to provide an appropriate floral arrangement. In view of the time difference, I will call later today so we may arrange the details. With our sincere condolence, Howard Hensleigh
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Subj: AL Goodman 
Date: 7/18/2003 9:59:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: JDWildlifeAcres

We were very sorry to hear of the passing of our good friend Al. He will be missed by all of us. Our prayers go out to Alice and the family.
Don and Jan Saunders
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Date: 7/18/2003 10:03:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: chrislindner@bellsouth.net

Hi Ben: I wanted to wish my deepest sympathy to the family of Mr. Al Goodman.  I did not know Mr. Goodman; put through the website I have heard many wonderful things about him.  I am sorry of their loss. Chris Lindner
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Subj: Al Goodman  Date: 7/19/2003 3:03:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Ge517ne
To: Ben517

Sorry to hear of the passing of Al Goodman. Though I did not know him very well, the picture of young, Allan Goodman, on the Thunderbolts really stands out in my memory. My sympathy goes out to his extended family.
Gene Brissey
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Subj: SPECIAL MAIL CALL 
Date: 7/18/2003 9:43:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: LiddellDesigns@cs.com

       Dear Mr. Barrett,
       I'm very sorry to hear about your friend.  You and his family will be in my thoughts and prayers. 
       Chris Liddell
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Date: 7/18/2003 7:09:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Dalry596@webtv.net

Ben: Replying to yours of 15th: I'll try to remember some anecdotes as
you requested. So grieved to here of Al's last jump. Dam! Bob Dalrymple
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Subj: Al Goodman 
Date: 7/18/2003 10:41:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: hhensleigh@earthlink.net

Ben:  I received the same sad news from the Static Line.  Al was a friend of all and will be missed.  I enjoyed working with him these last two years and have a heavy heart.  God bless,  Howard Hensleigh
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Subj: Re: Al Goodman 
Date: 7/20/2003 2:34:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Genesir

Bob and all,
     I just received your message and an older one from Howard. Concerning any effort on behalf of our loss of our good friend Al, I certainly concur and will assist financially or any other way.
     As a note, I have been in OR for the last month and have been without contact with the (outside) world. I am returning to my home in San Luis Obispo, this coming week and would like to be in contact anyone from AL's family to include a visit.
     I will be in CA from about 23Jul to the first week of Aug and then to WA DC, but will be in touch.
So please keep me informed and what I can do.
     Regards to all.    Gene Frice 
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Hallowed landings Al.

Ben