RONALD ALAN GOODMAN

Condolences & Memories (8 entries)

• I know this is almost a year old already, but I felt compelled to weigh in. Unfortunately, I just found out about the passing of my old friend and roommate, Goodie, as I now reside on the West Coast and am a bit out of touch with my old Winnipeg friends. My heart goes out to Goodie and all who loved him. He definitely was one of a kind and one of my favorite people. We shared many 'Good' times and memories back on Queen Street (St. James) in the house we rented sometime in the 80's. I even hired him and his Dad, Don to do some reno's on my first house purchase on Roseberry Street. Back then, I remember how much he valued his family, especially Brad who I was lucky enough to meet several times as a kid. Again, my heart goes out to everyone. Dan Blais - Posted by: Dan Blais (friend and old room-mate) on: Sep 25, 2024

• It was with great sadness and dismay that I learned of Ron's unfortunate death. I'm not sure if I have ever known anyone with as many friends and acquaintances as Goods. As mentioned in previous memoriams, he was always joking, laughing and fun to be around. As fellow carpenters and building contractors, Ron and I often worked together on each other's projects, laughing, and having fun while getting work done and making money. One big condo project starting in November 2005 had us working together as finishing carpenters and kitchen cabinet installers for 5-6 months in the Kenora/Keewatin area. As usual, we worked hard and fast while having lots of laughs and got to share a few beers at the local watering holes. I will miss you my friend and wish we could have shared more good times together. Unfortunately I can't be there for the celebration of life tonight as I am already in Mexico's warmer climate which Ron got to enjoy the last few winters. - Posted by: Lindsay Kolt (Friend and colleague) on: Jan 06, 2024

• My heart is broken about hearing how Ron left us. It saddens me beyond belief. To me he was the funniest man I’ve ever known. I worked with Ron and his Dad Don for four years while I went to university and years later. There was always a job for me when school was out. Ron trained me and those skills came in handy when I renovated my house. I don’t do it as a trade but the skills have stayed with me for 30+ years. Work was always fun. He made me laugh all day long while we worked. We had mutual friends so Ron continued making us laugh on weekends when we went out for the night. Whenever I renovate something it makes me think of Goody and I’ll be laughing to myself. So much so I’d call Goody. I’ve moved to Vancouver 30 years ago and I really missed our friendship. I still called Goody during these last 30 years. Every time I called him his quick humor always had me laughing again as if I haven’t moved at all. So hearing Ron’s death has hit me harder than I could imagine. 😢I’m on dialysis waiting for a kidney transplant otherwise I would be there for sure. It hurts me that I can’t be there. So since I can’t make it I just needed to say how much his friendship meant to me. Rest in peace my dear friend. - Posted by: Duane (Bing) Shearer (Friend) on: Jan 03, 2024

• December 1, 2023 Lament for a Dear Brother... Without a doubt, yesterday marked a harrowing day for me and myriad others. For me it started with receiving an early morning text followed by a call with Ron "Goodie" Goodman's daughter, Hanna, confirming the heartbreaking news of his departure to join the heavens — uniting with the angels, including his late mother, Mary. To Goodie's sister Diane, Hanna, her siblings, their mother, his girlfriend Jo, his talented nephew Brad, and the multitude of family and friends grappling with our unique and sudden loss, I share in your profound grief and sorrow. Who was Goodie? Make no mistake, like many of us, he was flawed, and he never pretended otherwise. Yet, his imperfections were not obvious or repelling when noticed. On the contrary, Goodie, much like the rest of us, grappled with his own demons, skillfully concealing them from those who cared deeply for him. And an extremely funny and loving guy was always apparent. In my world, Goodie was more than a friend; he was family—a bond akin to that of a dear brother. In our youth, he was my Huck Finn. Or perhaps, I was his? Regardless, our friendship rivaled the adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, adapted to a suburban backdrop, surrounded by an airport, creeks, rustic bike trails, and expansive fields in our own backyard Bord-Air community. In sports, his prowess with a hockey puck was easily noticeable and hard not to marvel at. In addition, he coupled that with being a creative playmaker on the ice as early as the tender age of 10. I remember Goodie at the time resembling a pint-sized version of the legendary Winnipeg Jet, Ulf Nilsson, fostering teamwork and inspiring greatness in those around him. And he could flop a pass over a stick on onto another as well as anyone I have ever seen. My attempts to emulate some of his unique greatness in some capacity led me to craft a hip-check, a source of pride as I strived to be a valued teammate, much like Goodie. And if he could be Ulf, I wanted to be Lars-Erik Sjöberg. I wished for our friendship to endure a lifetime, and later, I needed it to last a lifetime. It did, albeit cut tragically short. After relocating from Winnipeg to Calgary, witnessing from afar Goodie's expanding circle of friends in St. James and beyond brought a constant warmth to my heart as people I hardly knew yet respected from afar were able to share and revel in the gift of being a friend of Goodie's. Through the simple act of constantly playing ball-hockey with a tennis ball in his backyard field, he became a respected local legend among Winnipeg sponge-hockey players, leading a group of inconceivables, including myself, to clinch the A&W Winter Games sponge-hockey Winnipeg championship at the age of 14. He later went on to be a valued member of the Satellites and Greyhounds spongee teams as they went on to dominate. His impact extended beyond the rink; he inspired many when he defied expectations, transitioning from Tier 3 to Tier 1 hockey, an unprecedented feat achieved over a single summer. That kind of climb rarely happens. Him and his St. James Canadians teammates later went on that year to earn the right to represent Manitoba in the Air Canada Cup Canadian championships. Goodie's athleticism wasn't confined to the ice; he excelled in riding motorcycles and snowmobiles, reigning as the top school-boy 125 cc moto-cross rider in Manitoba. His strength, particularly in arm-wrestling, defied his average stature. Anyone who tried pulling his right arm likely quickly found out about his hand/wrist strength. On somewhat of a side note, Goodie's late mother, Mary, and my own late mother, Lina, shared a kinship, coaching the Bord-Air Ladies baseball team to a City Championship, embodying a healthy and balanced spirit of winning and enjoying the hard-work along the journey. True friendships weather honesty, and I recall a lone childhood fight at the age of 12 that was swiftly resolved moments afterward, reinforcing the unshakeable trust and respect we had in each other. Ron's life was marked by his own unique challenges—a battle with club feet at birth, a near-amputation of a foot in his forties following a motorcycle mishap trying to fly over a couple of whoop-de-doos, and a fight against prostate cancer that had an unwelcome lingering effect. Add the complexities of a broken marriage, the nuances of navigating the COVID-19 era, and the recent woke shifts facilitated by mainstream media—a perfect storm happened which exacerbated his latent internal struggles. In the end, the world has been forced to say an unexpected farewell to a cherished father, lover, uncle, son, and friend. I am convinced that Goodie embodied the spirit of his mother Mary, and perhaps, he yearned to be measured against her rather than his estranged 90-year-old father. Reflecting on a childhood reminiscent of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, there's a novel within the anecdotes of Goodie and my shared adventures, filled with genuine laughter and undeniable joy. Perhaps, on another day, I'll consider penning those memories. For now, like many others, I grapple with my grief and sense of loss. If you've journeyed this far into my lament, I appreciate your time in understanding the depth of our collective loss. All the love in the world to Goodie's family, my fellow Winnipeggers, the hockey community, and beyond, who share in the pain of our shared loss. May Goodie's unique gift of bringing smiles and laughter endure for eternity. Feeling shattered, Yogi 💔 PS... Goodie... Godspeed — you were a beautiful friend!!! Till we someday reunite in the heavens, Brother Yogi 💖 - Posted by: Yogi (Long-time Family Friend) on: Jan 02, 2024

• Had the opportunity to play my first 2 years of junior hockey with Goodie, was a great competitor and even a better teammate, through the years of living in St. James had ran into Ronny quit often and enjoyed a few beverages reliving the good old day’s, to the Goodman family my deepest condolences RIP Goodie, heaven got a good one, gone to soon, Godbless. - Posted by: Terry Koldon (Teammate- Friend ) on: Dec 30, 2023

• The celebration of life for my dad will be held on January, 6th and 7:00pm at TYC (1405 St. Matthew's Ave). All are welcome to attend! - Posted by: Sara Goodman (Daughter ) on: Dec 30, 2023

• ❤️ Please join us to celebrate the life of Ron (Goodie) on Saturday January 6th At 7:00 P.M at the TYC Event Centre 1405 St. Matthew's Ave. EVERYONE WELCOME💕 Come with your Goodie stories!! (and we know there are a lot of them!) 😉 - Posted by: Diane Goodman (Sister) on: Dec 30, 2023

• Firstly my sincere condolences to all of Ronnie’s family and long time acquaintances. I knew Ronnie from our high school days and from mutual friends in the St. James area. I ran into Ron several times over the years and we’d share a good laugh and catch up. I’ve have many good memories of Ronnie from the hockey rink or the Monterey socials to working with him on some contracting jobs. Always had a smile and a laugh. Gone way too soon. Rest is peace my friend. - Posted by: Colin McNeill (Friend ) on: Dec 30, 2023