Shirley S. Goff

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University of Rhode Island

Shirley Goff Obituary

GOFF, SHIRLEY S., 85, died Saturday. She was the daughter of the late John D. and Ruth D. Sawyer, mother of Edgar S. Goff, Jr. of Delphi, NY, Anne Lund of Burke, VA, and Cynthia G. Banahan of East Providence.

A grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of 4, she is also survived by her sister, Joan Phillips, of Brevard, NC. She resided in Bristol for the last 4 years, previously living on Oakdale Avenue, Pawtucket.

Mrs. Goff, who attended the University of Rhode Island, was an Executive with the Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc. for 30 years, retiring in 1985. She was active in establishing the Girl Scout Museum in Camp Hoffman, West Kingston. She was a member of the Historical Society of Rhode Island, the Prudence Island Conservancy, the Prudence Island Historical Society, the Urban League of Rhode Island and the League of Women Voters. After her retirement, Mrs. Goff was an active volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Rhode Island and with the Trefoil Club.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, April 2, in the Newman Congregational Church, Newman Avenue, Rumford. A collation will be held in the church hall following the services. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Prudence Island Conservancy or the Prudence Island Volunteer Fire Department.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Providence Journal on Mar. 23, 2005.

Memories and Condolences
for Shirley Goff

6 Entries

Linda Speck

March 17, 2025

It's been over 60 years since I met Shirley Goff. In going to work at Camp Hoffman, I was going for the first time in my life to a place where I knew no one. Shirley met me at the train station, took me to the camp, and there I was for the next 9 weeks. She was extraordinarily kind and patient with me! Yes; I'd been a Girl Scout since becoming a Brownie in 3rd grade. Yes; I'd been on more than one scout-related adventure, including the 1959 Roundup near Colorado Springs. Yes; I'd attended and then helped at a local day camp near my home (in Raleigh, NC at the time). But being at an overnight camp? Never! And where I knew no one? Oh my! And then there were the cultural differences. For example, RI was about 60% Roman Catholic; NC was about 2% Roman Catholic back then. So my Presbyterian self gladly adapted; yet it was one more thing to get used to. I remain grateful for Shirley's help, patience, and kindness. And I bet I'm not alone!

Linda Speck

March 17, 2024

I remember Shirley Goff (camp name "Jay") from my summers working at Camp Hoffman. I was a totally-green newbie, barely old enough to be a unit leader. Through her quiet, patient ways, she instilled confidence in me, as I'm sure she did for other young workers. I will always be thankful for her!

Linda Speck

April 2, 2005

Shirley ("Jay") was the Program Director during the first of my four summers as a Unit Leader at Camp Hoffman (1963-65, and 1967). There I was, barely old enough to be a Unit Leader, and fresh out of North Carolina, totally unfamiliar with even then-multicultural Rhode Island. It was the first time in my life that I had gone to a place where I knew absolutely no one. Shirley was the one who picked me up at the train station in West Kingston. She was unfailingly gracious, kind, patient, and encouraging toward me and toward everyone at Hoffman.

I have always counted her as a significant person in my "still-growing-up" years. I told her more than once that, the older I became, the more I appreciated how patient and kind she had been with me that first summer. I was grateful to return to Hoffman and work with her again in 1964 (I think she was Camp Director that summer). Thereafter, she visited Hoffman, but I don't think she was on the staff.

In her inimitable, quiet way, she insisted upon "gracious living in the out-of-doors." That meant courtesy among camp staff and toward the campers, using quiet voices (she did!), insisting upon order amid potential chaos in the camp dining halls, and even requiring proper table manners at unit cookouts (two a day for the older girls!).

I last saw her on a visit to Rhode Island in the summer of 1976 and had a note from her sometime in the 1980s. A former camper of mine, who knew the high regard I had for Shirley, called me last week to let me know of her death. What a great lady she was! I will always be thankful for her, and I will be remembering her family in my prayers, as the memorial service is being held today.