Paul “Pat” Goodwin, a leader of New Haven’s business and Jewish communities for decades, died Sunday.
Goodwin ran the Eastern Steel Co., served as president of numerous Jewish organizations, donated generously to civic causes, and helped found and run New Haven Development Corporation and the Technology Investment Fund. He also served in World War II, and was present at the liberation of Nazi concentration camps.
Following is a eulogy delivered by Rabbi Jon-Jay Tilsen at Goodwin’s funeral Tuesday at Congregation Beth El Keser Israel, of which he was a founding member; as well as an obituary prepared by his family.
Eulogy
Paul Goodwin was born in New Haven on 13 February 1919 to Israel “Isadore” Goodwin & Sarah Levine and raised in their hard-working and loving Jewish home along with his brothers Louis, Samuel “Sonny” and Robert, where they learned the values of leadership and community responsibility. Paul explained, “My parents were not wealthy people by any standard, but they always supported the Free Burial Society,
orphan’s home, the United Jewish Appeal. There was always a puskhe, a blue-and-white charity box, in our home. It was their example. I still have a pushke.”
Each of his brothers and their wives supported Paul’s work, and each was a community leader in his own right. They shared a business as well as their leadership in the Jewish and civic community, and most importantly they shared their family. Paul was the go-to guy for advice and material support for much of the Goodwin family, because he was determined to try to help his extended family keep moving forward. He was close to his brothers, their wives and children, as well as Claire’s family, through his entire life. Paul’s death at age 95 marks the end of a generation of the Goodwin Family.
Pat graduated from Hillhouse High School in 1935 at age 16. In 1938, he won first place in the International Oratorical Contest of the AZA of B’nai Brith.
Pat Goodwin was an outstanding community leader of Greater New Haven. At age 17, he was appointed to the Board of the Jewish Community Center. Since that day, he has served with distinction as a president, chair, officer or director of most of our local Jewish institutions.
Paul served in the US Army in World War Two in England and France as a staff sergeant and topographer. He saw firsthand the liberation of the death camps. These experiences, of service to the public in the military during wartime, and witnessing the depravity of supposedly advanced societies, seem to have firmly established Paul’s sense of what is important in life and what he must do in this world.
In 1967, he served as chairman of the Israel Emergency Fund. He understood that the survival of Israel was effectively a matter of life and death for Diaspora Jewry as well as for Israelis. He was a local leader of national prominence, and in visiting Israel he was with Moshe Dayan, Golda Meir and Ariel Sharon, among other leaders. During the Lebanon War with Hizballah, Pat was extremely agitated, a depth of concern that many of us shared.
Maintaining good relations among various Jewish communities and institutions and between the Jewish and civic communities was a central part of Paul’s vision. Many times, he brought “warring parties” together in his living room. Paul had an extremely simply yet brilliant insight: When you bring discordant parties together and seek reconciliation, “sometimes it works.” Part of his bravery and wisdom was in taking the initiative and accepting the risk of peacemaking, as described by our sage Hillel (Avot 1:12), “Be a disciple of Aaron: Love peace and pursue peace.”
As President of the Jewish Community Council from 1969 – 1972, he promoted the idea of creating a “Federation,” and worked with Sam Glazer (of blessed memory) and other leaders to plant the seeds for a Jewish
Foundation – a concept few had even heard of at that time. We are now the beneficiaries of that vision and of the efforts and generosity of all those who made these institutions great. Paul is truly a Founding Father of the Federation and of the Foundation, which now manages over $40 million for the benefit our local and international community – a sum unimaginable when they started it back then, and a sum that we now view as a “good start.”
With his family, Paul created the “Goodwin-Levine Adult Day” programs, which served many local residents for decades.
Paul is also a “Founding Father” of our synagogue, Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel, or BEKI, as it is known, in its modern incarnation. Pat and Claire raised their children in the Congregation and provided a model for commitment to community. When he was in New Haven, Pat attended every Shabbat evening and morning service as well as frequent daily morning services. His children have also been wonderful supporters of the Congregation over the years.
Like his brother Lou, he served as President, and as the Building Committee Chairperson for this current building, and in numerous offices and roles. The sanctuary in which his memorial service is being held was sponsored by Pat and his brothers in memory of their parents. Indeed, the steel beams beneath the floor of the sanctuary were provided by Pat through his company Eastern Steel, which enabled us to create one of the largest social halls in New Haven unobstructed by vertical pillars. Pat loved to tell the story about how by extraordinary chance he came into possession of these specialty items just at the right time.
But in the past 20 years, the best role was as the elder statesman, a distinguished and admired personality who provided encouragement and direction to the congregation. In part because of his extensive personal investment of time, wisdom, labor, money – even the actual steel beams under our feet at this moment – Paul rightfully felt the pride of ownership and deserves a great share of credit for whatever is good about this community.
His own religiosity that brought him to every Shabbat [Saturday] morning service did not prevent him, when the service was longer than usual due to Rosh Hodesh or a long-winded rabbi, from leaving a little early in order to make tee-time at the golf course. He was serious about the service as public liturgy expressing the values and hopes of the people. The prayers for the well-being of Israel, the peace of Jerusalem, and the liberation of captives and those unjustly detained, all of which are included in every service in the Amida prayer, were recited sincerely and indeed with a sense of urgency. Paul demanded that we take our own liturgy seriously.
The Goodwin Brothers felt a sense of responsibility to build their own families and business as well as to develop the institutions to make strong the Jewish People and the civic community. This took expression, to mention one important example, in his service as President and later Chairman Emeritus of the New Haven Development Corporation as well as the Technology Investment Fund and the New Haven Investment Corporation.
Paul was a wonderful friend, supporter and teacher. I learned a lot from him. He’s was great fundraiser – I once clocked him at $3,200 a minute. Another time I tagged along as he solicited an old friend in Florida, and even to say “no” still cost the gentleman $5,000. The single greatest qualification Pat had is that he was willing to ask. He was willing to ask because he believed in the cause. The second qualification is that was a person of integrity. He contributed at or beyond his means and thus had the standing to ask others to do the same. He understood people,
at least as well as anyone. And was both forceful and very charming; he set a personal example and let his friends and others know what was expected of them.
As Chairman of Eastern Steel and Metal Company, Pat provided not only for his own family, but created good jobs for dozens of people for many years, making real products that were actually useful and beneficial to society.
As a friend to many, beyond business associates, he was a charming and interesting man, strong and sweet, articulate and at times strident, but always valuing the honest relationship, whether playing cards or golf or debating the matters of the day.
He was deeply enamored of his wife Claire, of blessed memory. What was important to her became important to him, including her extended family. Together they created a busy and loving home for their children Debi, Rick and Suzi, and welcomed Steven, Gary and John into their home as well, with no reservation or regret, but only with an open heart. His role was to provide a decent home for them, as was the standard role of the father in that era, and in that he was successful. He welcomed his children’s spouses into the family, and expressed his pleasure that Rachel [Lampert], Richard [Shaw] and Stan [Levin] were helping to keep his children happy and on the straight and narrow.
In the earlier years, he tried, with his brothers, to give their sons a good start in business, and although the plan didn’t exactly worked out the way he might have envisioned it, in the end they all did very well. He was an involved father to all of his children, which meant for him an open heart and open home to them in adulthood, to offer unconditional love and support, and to encourage them in difficult times and celebrate their accomplishments.
Paul was enormously proud of his grandchildren, Amy [Davison], Daniel [Caldas-Lerman], Diana [Lerman Lockshin] & Dr. Benjamin [Lockshin], Chloe [Lerman], and Jessie Claire [Goodwin], and was appreciated their partners Lisa and Antonio as well. He was an approachable patriarch, a father-figure, a rock, a deeply admired and loved man, an advisor and head cheerleader and supporter for his grandchildren.
Although Claire’s passing was difficult, Pat lived by the philosophy that no matter what happens you go on. He was very fortunate to enjoy a loving relationship with Pearl Zale until her death. Beyond companionship and sharing some very good years together, she challenged him emotionally and intellectually, and helped him continue to grow and evolve as a mature person in a relatively graceful manner. He really loved her and enjoyed being with her. Pearl was the grandmother for his younger grandchildren. Paul also enjoyed a special friendship with Vicky in Florida.
Although we are saddened by Pat’s passing, perhaps his children and loved ones can find some measure of peace in knowing that he was deeply proud of each of his children and didn’t mind saying it – he said it to us, and I hope he said it directly to them – and that thanks to his own efforts, and the loving care and support of his children, he was able to live in the most independent, dignified and happy way that was possible to the very end of his life. In addition to their own hands-on care and loving visits, his ongoing independence was insured by the devotion in these final years of Paulette Powell of Pompano Beach and Kingston Jamaica, whose seemingly infinite patience and kindness are inspiring and deeply
appreciated.
Paul’s life was a tremendous blessing. He gave the gift of love and life to his family, served his country and his People, created and supported essential Jewish and civic organizations, and was a good friend to many and an admired leader in this congregation and community. His family, his insightful vision for the future and his good works continue as a source of blessing for us; let us be thankful for the gift of his life.
Obituary
Paul “Pat” Goodwin, 95, of Pompano Beach, Fl and formerly of Woodbridge, CT, devoted husband of the late Claire (Abrams) Goodwin, died at his home on Sunday, June 22, 2014. Born in New Haven, Feb. 13, 1919, he was a son of the late Isadore & Sarah (Levine) Goodwin. Beloved Father of Richard Goodwin (Dr. Rachel Lampert) Of Branford, Debra Biderman (Richard Shaw) of West Palm Beach, Fla, Susan Goodwin Lerman (Dr Stan Levin) of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla, and Uncle of Steven, Gary, and John Horen. Dear Brother of the late Louis, Samuel, & Robert Goodwin. Cherished Grandfather of Amy Davison, Daniel Caldas-Lerman, Diana Lerman Lockshin (Dr Benjamin Lockshin), Chloe Lerman, and Jessie Claire Goodwin.
Pat was born on Washington Avenue in New Haven. A lifelong resident of New Haven, he sold his home in Woodbridge only last year. He was the Chairman of the Eastern Steel and Metal Company of Milford, until its sale in 1990. He was a lifelong benefactor and contributor to the Jewish community and city of New Haven. Pat graduated from Hillhouse High School in 1935 at age 16. At that time, he was the youngest member of the Board of Directors of the New Haven Jewish Community Center. In 1938 he won the first place in the International Oratorical Contest of the AZA of B’Nai Brith.
Pat went to war in 1943 out of Fort Dix and spent two years in England. He then went as a staff sergeant as a topographer with the 654th Engineers of the First Army from the beaches of Normandy and the bombing of St Lo, to the liberation of Paris and on to the Battle of the Bulge at Malmady. He then went on to Germany and saw first hand the liberation of the death camps. He returned and joined his beloved older brothers and his father to work in the steel business.
A member of the Rose Street Shul until its destruction by redevelopment, he became a founding member of Beth El Keser Israel Congregation (BEKI), negotiating the purchase of the land and dedicating the building in 1960. He served as President of BEKI for multiple terms.
In 1967 he served as chairman of the Israel Emergency Fund. He served as president of the New Haven Jewish Community Council and was the co-founder of the Jewish Foundation of New Haven, the bedrock agency of the community today. He and his brothers founded the Goodwin Levine Foundation. He also, together with the New Haven Jewish Home for the Aged, helped start the Goodwin-Levine Adult Day Center.
In addition to his devotion to the Jewish Community, Pat was also dedicated to the greater New Haven business community. He served as President and later Chairman Emeritus of the New Haven Development Corporation as well as the Technology Investment Fund and the New Haven Investment Corporation. These agencies served to lend seed money to many of the most successful companies in manufacturing and biotechnology in New Haven today.
Pat’s wife Claire, who predeceased him in 1988, was his love, and his pride, and joy. In later years, Pearl Zale of Hamden became his beloved companion until her death last year. In his final years he was cared for by Paulette Powell of Pompano Beach and Kingston Jamaica, an angel until the end. He was a dedicated and beloved husband, father, uncle and grandfather who will be greatly missed by his family, friends, synagogue, and community.
Memorial Contributions may be sent to Beth El Keser Israel, 85 Harrison St, New Haven, 06515, or the Goodwin Levine Foundation, c/o Richard Goodwin, 43 Linden Avenue, Branford, CT, 06405. A Period of Mourning will be observed at 43 Linden Ave., Branford on Tuesday following the funeral until 8p.m. and on Wednesday, 1p.m.-4p.m. & 6p.m.-8p.m. Funeral Arrangements in care of Robert E. Shure Funeral Home, New Haven.
