Dr. Robert "Bob" Goodkin

Dr. Robert Goodkin, age 87, passed away peacefully at St. Joseph's Wayne Medical Center with his loving family by his side.

Bob attended Allegheny College and went on to earn his Master's and Doctorate degrees from Florida State University. He maintained a practice in psychology in Wayne for over 50 years as well as a professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University and Montclair State University, where he was adored by students and respected by colleagues.

Bob loved to travel and was a gifted photographer. He captured extraordinary images of the people and places he encountered on both film and on his always available sketch pad, adding to his portfolio of hundreds of sketched faces. He played piano and guitar and had an appreciation for every kind of music and all of the arts. His home was filled with books, artwork, sculpture, and his own photographic work, reflecting the creative intellectual spirit that defined him. Bob was constantly sketching, writing, listening, and learning. He published numerous studies and research articles, and in 1981, his book, A Therapist's Notebook was published.

Bob was married for 55 years to his childhood sweetheart, Diane, with whom he shared adventures and joy, as well as the devastating loss of their beloved children, David and Janet. When their granddaughter Rachel lost her mother, Bob arranged for her to live with them so she could remain in her school and community, and acting as both her Papa and as another father figure in her life. Bob's granddaughters, Brittany and Rachel, were the light of his life, and always looked forward to their special outings with "Gaggi and Papa". Bob later became a proud great-grandfather to Amber and Scarlet, daughters of Brittany and her husband, Brandon, and he was thrilled when Rachel became engaged to Brian.

Bob cared for Diane with extraordinary devotion through the ravages of diabetes. After her passing, Bob was blessed through his next chapter of life with Patty, who brought joy, love, and renewed adventure. They shared a deep love of art and music, traveled together, and continued to enjoy their mutual passions. He embraced Patty's warm, close-knit family. They loved him as well, the grandchildren calling him "Bobbo." Patty was always by his side through his declining health, caring for him with positivity, practicality, tenderness, unwavering support, and a sense of humor.

Bob experienced life with passion, curiosity, and courage. He faced both its greatest gifts and its deepest sorrows. He passed peacefully, surrounded by his family. Bob is survived by his brother Franklin Goodkin and sister-in-law Judy; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Marcie and Richard Seninsky; granddaughters Brittany Goodkin Fernandez (Brandon) and Rachel Hannagan (Brian Miskar); his great-granddaughters Amber and Scarlet; many cherished nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews; and his dear companion, Dr. Pat (Patty) Neary-Ludmer.

He will be deeply missed by his family, his friends, his students, his colleagues, and the many
patients whose lives he touched.