Gary Goddard

1938 - 2025

Gary Goddard
03/13/1938 - 02/08/2025
Gary Goddard passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family and his furry sidekick, Melody, on February 8, 2025.
He whispered "I love you," and sang the last word of his favorite song, Mr. Bojangles, "Dance."
Gary is survived by his wife of 63 years, Yvonne Goddard; daughter, Renee Goddard; son, Marc Goddard; son-in-law, Alexei Tcherepanov; and grandchildren, Sasha, Ruby, Quinn and Lilian.
Gary was an insurance broker in his native city of San Francisco for over 60 years.
He was appointed President of the Society of Insurance Brokers during its 50th Anniversary year, and made partner at Dinner & Levison company in 1976.
He served as the Insurance Broker pro bono, helping open San Francisco's Delancey Street- the country's leading self-help organization, "a community where people with nowhere to turn, turn their lives around."
He was passionate about supporting people's personal and professional growth, and served faithfully on the Board of Jewish Vocational Service.
Gary was an urban and mountain Renaissance man, skiing on the weekends in Bear Valley, where he and his brother, Michael, built one of the first small cabins in 1968. He played tennis and pickleball with his steadfast friends until he turned 84, and supported the ballet, symphony and the museums of San Francisco.
Despite his self-declared tone-deafness, he memorized and sang loudly and proudly the lyrics to most Broadway musicals.
Gary was adored by his children and grandchildren. His jokes and Batman stories always filled the room with laughter.
He made everyone he met feel special, and modeled fairness and kindness.
He is cherished and missed, and will travel in our hearts and memories forever.