Bill Coleman
Scandia Area ReporterAl Goodman, Scandia, a longtime Washington County and Scandia building inspector, died Monday, Jan. 5, at St. Johns Hospital, Maplewood. He was 63.
Goodman and his wife Janet moved to Scandia in 1978 after accepting a position as a Washington County building and septic inspector. He held his position with the county, working mostly in the northern half, for 24 years. He started overseeing Scandiaís building inspector duties in the late 1990s after the county stopped offering building inspection services.
Goodman, with heavy support from his wife of 39 years, was homebound, limited to the first floor of the home he built just south of Big Marine Lake and recovering from a brain-stem stroke in April of 2001 when the fatal stroke hit.
ìHe was beginning to show signs of improvement and getting stronger each day,î Janet Goodman said. ìThis was really a surprise to me. I had thought the tide had turned for the better. At the rate he was improving, he could have fully recovered within the next couple of years.î
Goodman grew up as a child in Calumet on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan until his teenage years when his family moved to Duluth where he graduated from Duluth East High School. Soon after graduation in 1959 he joined the Navy and served as a radar technician on the U.S.S. Boston in the Mediterranean Sea. He served two years active duty and four years in the Naval Reserves.
In 1964 Goodman married Janet (Foster) and in 1970 earned a degree in business from the University of Minnesota Duluth. He worked various jobs prior to his position with Washington County, including work as an insurance adjuster and a very brief stint with the IRS.
ìHe wanted to work for the FBI,î his wife Janet said. ìHe always liked spy games, mysteries, stuff like that, but he ended up with the IRS instead. He really didnít like what they were about.î
ìHe was an avid board game player,î remembers his sisters-in-law Pam and Tami. ìAt Christmas the one present you really anticipated was the one Al gave you. He put a lot of thought into it, it was always some sort of game, and it was always something interesting.î
It was while living in Rockford that the couple discovered the Scandia-Marine area.
ìWe drove up to Taylors Falls one weekend and I remember saying how it would be nice to live here some day,î Janet said. ìIím glad it happened. It reminded Al of the place where he grew up. The community has been so supportive to us. I canít tell you how much it meant to me.î
During Alís recent period of recovery, the Scandia-Marine Lions Club began assisting Janet with Alís physical therapy exercises. Members took turns helping him walk as part of his exercises.
The local community, spearheaded by neighbor Charlie Weber, along with the Lions, also pitched in to purchase materials to build an asphalt walkway and a ramp for his wheelchair.
ìI know everyone who had him inspect their project were extremely happy with Alís work,î said Scandia Town Clerk Dolores Peterson. ìHe was a great guy, a pleasure to work with, and he will be missed.î
A memorial service was Tuesday at St. Jerome Catholic Church in Maplewood. A private interment will be performed at a later date at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.
Top of Page
