After a life well-lived, well-read, and well-traveled, we note the sad passing of Reed Goodman much too early on May 19, 2025, ten months after his diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer. Reed was not defined by this illness but also did not shrink from facing the difficult decisions and discussions that had to be had with family, friends, doctors and nurses. Reed and his husband of 44 years, Joel Goldstein, were surrounded and supported by friends, family, and colleagues with whom they formed strong bonds over many years.

Always a consummate planner and organizer, Reed was sure to leave his files and records in perfect order and approach his mortality in a way that left as few loose ends and unfinished tasks as possible. As he faced his own mortality he did two things very characteristic of him. As a reader, he went back and reread important books by Atul Gawande and Paul Kalanithi. Even after he recovered from a stroke which impaired his vision last August, Reed kept up a robust reading schedule. Reed had exquisite taste in books and sometimes panned popular books he thought needed serious editing. He termed one very popular book "a slog."

The second thing Reed did over these past several difficult months is he thought about and reveled in the important relationships he had forged over his 71 years. As he took measure of his life and what he had accomplished and what mark he had made he came to the realization that it wasn't important that he never wrote a great novel, had his name on a building, or had a black-tie event in his honor. What was most important to him was that people he grew up with in his home town, friendships he had established during his years in college and then from his time living in Boston, and colleagues he had hired, managed or mentored at Dupont, IBM, Digital Equipment Corporation, Weber Shandwick, and Fidelity Investments not only kept in touch with him, but treasured his friendship and speak eloquently about what Reed meant to them and how he had impacted their lives. He was a kind, giving, smart, and sometimes exacting spouse, friend, and boss. The sign he had hanging over his office door for years that now hangs in his home, 'Because Nice Matters,' is the true measure of who he was as a person.

Reed was born August 24, 1953 in Honesdale, Pennsylvania to parents Charles and Edna (Spangenberg} Goodman, now deceased. He received his BA from the University of Pennsylvania in 1975 and his EdM from Harvard University in 1978.

Reed is survived by his husband, Joel J. Goldstein, PhD, of Sudbury, MA. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law Dale and Jackie Goodman of Shawnee, OK and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Walter and Dr. Toni Walzer of Brookline, MA, as well as cherished cousins, nieces and nephews.

Reed requested no formal service but there will be an informal memorial gathering in his honor to be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor can be made to The Greater Boston Food Bank , The Southern Poverty Law Center , or Good Shepherd Community Care of Massachusetts.

Reed wanted to be sure to recognize and thank the incredible teams of doctors, nurses, and caregivers who cared for him at the MGH Cancer Center, Newton Wellesley Oncology, Emerson Hospital, and the Miriam Boyd Parlin Hospice in Wayland, MA.

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.