Joseph Henry Goodman MD, of Wilmington, North Carolina was born in Durham, on October 23, 1944, to E.G. Goodman MD, and Elizabeth Zuidema Goodman. Joe passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, October 29, 2023, just six days after his 79th birthday. He was proceeded in death by his parents and his brother, Edward G. Goodman, as well as his sister-in-law, Jane Sexton Schelich, and brother-in-law, Ron Swaney. He is survived by his wife, Patricia his daughters, Mariah, of Durham, North Carolina, and Allison of Houston Texas, his sister, Margaret Goodman Shelton and brother-in-law, Ernest “Chuck” Shelton, of Leland, NC., sisters and brothers-in-law, James (Laurain) Sexton, DVM, Walnut Creek CA, Charles (Robin) Sexton MD, Irvine, CA, John (Kristy) Sexton, the Woodlands, TX, William (Kathleen) Sexton, the Woodlands, TX, Cynthia Swaney, Sidney, OH, Frances (Rolf) Ozamiz, Winston-Salem, Anne (Thomas, MD) Namey, Knoxville, and Robert (Connie) Schelich, along with twenty-five much loved nieces and nephews, and many grand-nieces and nephews.
Joe graduated from New Hanover High School, class of 1963, having attended schools in Leland, Hawaii, and Oakland California due to his father’s military career. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Doctor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He completed a fellowship in pathology at UNC, then his surgical internship and neurosurgical residency at The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. He then completed a fellowship in stereotactic surgery at The London Hospital, London, England. Joe spent his medical career as a member of the neurosurgical faculty practice at OSU Medical Center, specializing in surgery for brain tumors and aneurysms, and helped initiate use of the Gamma Knife Radiosurgery program there. He also served in the medical corps of the Ohio National Guard, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He retired from medicine in 2001 and brought his family home to North Carolina, spending two years in Southport before settling in Wilmington. Here, he raised his daughters with his beloved wife of nearly 32 years and worked the family land in Brunswick County. He enjoyed traveling, and staged his active pursuit of all things outdoors, including international fly fishing and hunting with his dear friend and cousin, David Sandlin of Newnan, Georgia. He was a pilot, certified at various times to fly seven types of small aircraft, and enjoyed flying along the coastline on sunny days and meeting with his many pilot friends in Southport and Wilmington. Joe was a brilliant, humble, logical, and respectful man who had both lifelong and new friends who shared his wide range of interests.
Joe was a wise and gentle father to Mariah and Allison, a loyal and protective husband to Pat, a wonderful brother to Margaret, a sweet brother-in-law who listened well and spoke little, but profoundly, and a fascinating uncle to his many nieces and nephews. To his extended family, he was known for his dry sense of humor, great intelligence, and for his love of life and positive attitude. He was a good friend to many and was always willing to help whenever he could. He was a principled Christian man and lived his life as a kind and good example. This knowledge, for those who love him, provides us all with great comfort during this time of immense loss.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at Pine Valley Methodist Church in Wilmington, NC. The family will receive friends beginning at 2:00 at the church.
In honor of Joe’s memory, the family requests that donations be made to Operation Smile (https://www.operationsmile.org/) or Doctors without Borders (https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/)
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