Dr. Ernest Goodman Obituary (1927 - 2014)

Dr. Ernest Goodman Former Chief of Staff of United Hospital, Dr. Ernest Goodman, age 86, passed away April 1, 2014 surrounded by his family. Ernie Goodman was born in St. Paul, and worked in his father's tire shop during the Depression. He began college at the University of Minnesota, playing snooker and serving as a teacher's assistant to pay tuition. When he reached 18, he enlisted and served in the U.S. Navy during WWII (where his interest in medicine was sparked by his performing emergency surgery on a soldier's toe). Ernie went to medical school at the University of Bologna, Italy on the GI bill (where he also met his wife of 63 years, Malka Lotterstein Goodman, and developed his tastes for classical music and gourmet dining). Returning to Minnesota to practice medicine, Ernie delivered nearly 8,000 babies as an obstetrician for two generations of St. Paul patients. He helped found the Parkview Obstetrics & Gynecology medical practice, ultimately serving as Chief of Staff at United Hospital in St. Paul. When he retired after 34 years of practice, Ernie served for 13 years as a volunteer obstetrician and Board member at La Clinica, a free clinic for the Hispanic community in St. Paul. Deeply proud of his Jewish heritage, a connoisseur of gourmet cooking and photography, and a lover of classical music, Ernie also served for many years on the Boards of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Jewish Community Center of St. Paul. A generous and kind man, Ernie was much loved and will be sorely missed by family, friends and patients. Survived by his wife of 63 years, psychiatrist Dr. Malka L. Goodman; children Dr. Aviel Goodman, Paula G. Maccabee and son-in-law Paul Maccabee, and Dr. Sheila Goodman Rosenthal and son-in-law Sol Rosenthal, all of St. Paul; grandchildren Leora Itman (married to Michael Itman) and Dr. Nadia Maccabee-Ryaboy (married to Oleg Ryaboy), both of Hopkins, and Shana, Elli and Amalia Rosenthal and Aaron Maccabee of St. Paul, and great grandchildren Maya Maccabee Ryaboy, Lisa Rose Itman and Liat Maccabee Ryaboy. Funeral to be held at TEMPLE OF AARON Synagogue, 616 Mississippi River Blvd., St. Paul, on FRIDAY, April 4, 11:00 a.m. Shiva gathering to be held Saturday, April 5, 7 pm with service at 8:30 pm; second shiva at 7 pm on Sunday, April 6, both at Ernie and Malka's home at 1045 Davern Street, St. Paul. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Harry and Manya Goodman Fund at the St. Paul JCC.