Gary Goodman OBITUARY
Gary Goodman, age 74, of Longmont, Colorado, passed away In Longmont, May 16, 2024. He passed peacefully and was surrounded by love and light from his family, Sharon, Seann, and Graham. Gary was born in the Bronx, New York, on August 19, 1949, to Harold and Sylvia Goodman. He grew up in the village of Ardsley, NY where he was raised in the traditions of Judaism. He attended and graduated from Ardsley High School in 1967. Gary went on to attend Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX and then transferred to the University of CO, Boulder where he graduated with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Business in 1972. Gary married Sharon Bilyeu of Chula Vista, CA in 1976 on Flagstaff Mountain in Boulder, CO where they lived for the next 10 years. They started their family during this time with the birth of their first son, Seann, in 1979. Gary’s work took the family to WA state where they welcomed the birth of their second son, Graham, in 1988. They lived in Gig Harbor, WA during these 28 years and raised their family on nearby Raft Island. The couple returned to CO to retire in 2014. Gary’s first love was always his family as a devoted husband, father, and “Gramps” to Bodhi. Gary was a lumberman through and through, having started that work in a lumberyard in Aspen, CO as a young man and later became a professional lumber sales representative for Georgia Pacific in Denver, Champion, Pacific Western, and Pacific Alaska Lumber of WA state. Gary was a passionate advocate for public education. He served on various educational committees in Gig Harbor, WA, and was a founding member of the Peninsula Education Foundation. He was elected to serve as a school board member for the Peninsula School District and later became the school board president. Gary was also a passionate advocate for his beloved Alma Mater, the University of CO, Boulder. He served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors for four years and received the “I Make Things Happen” award for his energy and vision. Later, in retirement, Gary served on the Forever Buffs Boulder Board where he worked for many years to raise funds for CU scholarships to local high school students. Gary was an avid downhill skier and taught his sons, Seann and Graham, to ski at very early ages. Gary enjoyed skiing in areas across the US and Canada but had a profound love of Snowmass, CO where he chose to have his ashes scattered. He skied up until the age of 70, with the assistance of the Ignite Adaptive Sports program of Eldora, CO. Gary was also a talented gardener and landscaper. An empty piece of land was his canvas as he put his artistry to work creating beautiful spaces, both outdoors and indoors. Additionally, he loved building houses, numbering 7, purely as a side interest. He played a major role in designing each of them, in addition to serving as general contractor. His first house was built when Gary was 26 years old. Other interests of Gary’s included reading and enjoying live music. He had a “larger than life personality” and was a “kid magnet”, always playful, with no qualms about acting goofy. Gary had a keen interest in politics, international travel, possessed a quick wit, high energy, and was always full of creative ideas. He coached youth sports, including baseball and soccer. Gary loved to hike in the Rockies and to kayak on the Puget Sound. Gary is survived by his wife, Sharon Goodman, his sons, Seann Goodman of Longmont, CO (married to Kate Schettler), his son, Graham Goodman of Seattle, WA (married to Molly Goodman), his Grandson, Bodhi Goodman, and soon-to-be-born, Grandson, Riggs Goodman, his Brother, Dennis Goodman of Cheltenham, England, Sister-in-Law, Bonnie Gordon, Niece, Canada Gordon, Nephew, Aaron Gordon, Cousins, Jeff Goodman, Bonnie Ferguson, Scheri Andounian. He is predeceased by his parents, Harold and Sylvia Goodman If desired, donations may be made to the Forever Buffs Boulder Scholarship Fund, an endowment, which will continue to give year to year in remembrance of Gary. https://giving.cu.edu/fund/alumni-association-endowed-buffalo-legacy-scholarship-fund There will be a celebration of life in Gary’s honor on October 6 in Lyons, CO.
