Dr. Ellen Goodman

Former Providence College Professor, Scholar, and Beloved Family Member
Dr. Ellen Goodman, a former professor of English at Providence College, John Milton scholar, and beloved sister, aunt, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, March 2, 2025 after a long period of illness. She was 82.
Born in Chicago in the 1940s to Ruth Isaacs, a social worker, and Daniel Safier, an occupational therapist and curriculum developer. Ellen spent much of her childhood in St. Louis, Missouri. She later made her home in Providence, Rhode Island, where she lived most of her life. She raised her son Bob in Providence with her then husband, Jay Goodman; they later divorced. In recent years, she resettled in Newton, Massachusetts to be closer to her immediate family.
Ellen graduated from University City High School and earned her B.A. in English from Mount Holyoke College. She went on to receive her Ph.D. from Brown University, where she focused her dissertation on John Milton and Paradise Lost.
She first taught high school, before moving to secondary education as part-time faculty at Northeastern University. She joined the faculty of the English and Western Civilization department at Providence College, where she became a tenured professor and taught for many years until her retirement in 2004.
Ellen developed a popular course at Providence College on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, which became one of her department's most sought-after offerings. Among her students were comedian Janeane Garofalo and former Congressman Patrick Kennedy.
Her scholarly work included Human Mastery of Nature: Aquinas and Milton's "Paradise Lost" (Milton Quarterly, March 1992) and other academic publications, especially exploring Milton's portrayal of nature as a complex ecosystem.
Ellen fondly reflected on her time at Mount Holyoke in a college publication, writing:
"The inspiring teachers at Mount Holyoke, the diverse and talented students, and the passion for life and learning continue to guide me more than fifty years later. I retired from teaching in 2004, but my love of challenging reading continues. My wonderful science courses and the supreme beauty of the campus still prompt my love of nature and my passionate concern with environmental issues. My political activism in college continues in my engagement with local and national political concerns. My delight in the camaraderie of other young women on campus is reflected in the importance of my friendships."
Her love for literature extended beyond academia; she was an avid reader of poetry by Emily Dickinson and Wallace Stevens, as well as science fiction by Stanislaw Lem, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Russell Hoban. She also had a deep appreciation for science writing by authors such as Carl Sagan and Lewis Thomas. In addition to literature, she had a passion for nature, wildlife, music, and the arts and was actively engaged in political, environmental, and animal welfare campaigns. Even in retirement, she enjoyed occasional poetry classes and poetry writing.
In her later years, Ellen resided at Wingate on the East Side of Providence and later at The Falls at Cordingly Dam in Newton, MA. At both residences, she was known for her passionate conversations, her expertise in Jeopardy! and trivia nights, and her love of bridge. Her family and friends will remember her intellect, wit, and unwavering passion for knowledge and discussion.
Ellen is survived by her son, Bob Goodman; her daughter-in-law, Naama Goldstein; her grandson, Amishai Goodman-Goldstein, and her cat Jonah, whom they've adopted; her sister, Ann Tettlebaum, and brother-in-law, Harvey Tettlebaum; her niece, Marianne Tettlebaum and husband Dorian Stuber and their daughter Thalia Stuber; and her nephew, Ben Tettlebaum.
To make a donation in Ellen's memory, please consider one of the following Providence-based organizations:
Community Libraries Of Providence:
Providence Animal Rescue League (PARL): https://www.parl.org/
Roger Williams Park Zoo:
India Point Park: https://www.friendsofindiapointpark.org/