Joyce Tatman Goodrow

1928 - 2013

Joyce Tatman Goodrow
January 5, 1928 - June 12, 2013
Resident of Los Gatos
Joyce died peacefully on June 12th after a long battle with Parkinson's, which she endured with amazing courage and toughness. Her husband of 61 years was by her side. Joyce was born January 5, 1928 in Sidell, Illinois During childhood, Joyce's family spent many summers on road trips visiting each of the continental United States. Ever with an adventurous spirit, during her summers while in college, she worked as a waitress at Yellowstone National Park, where she met Bill, a dishwasher and fisherman from Colorado. After spending two more summers at Yellowstone and graduating from Milliken University with a degree in English/Speech, she married Bill and moved to Denver where she taught high school English while Bill attended medical school. They spent time in various areas of California as Bill continued his training and Navy duty, started a family, and then settled in the Saratoga/Los Gatos area where they raised their 5 children. Always ready to enlarge her "family", she and Bill hosted exchange students and other young people who wanted or needed a place to stay.
Joyce was a gourmet cook who loved being in the kitchen, always experimenting and creating meals for her family and friends. She and Bill belonged to a gourmet group for over 40 years that combined her passions of cooking and spending time with good friends. Joyce also enjoyed music, going to concerts, and traveling. She always liked being active and in the early 1980's, she worked for a time at Apple Computer, where she enjoyed being part of a high-energy, young company. Her interest in computers started there and continued for the rest of her life. She also made time to volunteer, teaching English as a second language to native Spanish speakers, and later working at the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop for 18 years.
Joyce's gentle, caring and generous nature will be greatly missed by her husband Bill, sister Jackie, sister-in-law, Rosann, children Blair, Linda, Tamra, and Michelle, her sons and daughter-in-laws, her nine grandchildren, great-grandson, several nieces and nephews, and many friends. Her son Steve predeceased her. A memorial service will be held on June 30 from 1-2:30 pm at The Terraces, Los Gatos and a private celebration of her life is being planned. Donations to honor Joyce may be made, in lieu of flowers, to your favorite charity, the American Cancer Society, or Hospice of the Valley.