Dr. John T. Goldthwait

Dr. John T. Goldthwait, a longtime resident of St. Augustine Beach, passed away early on the morning of Friday, June 7, 2013, following a brief illness.

Goldthwait was born in Duluth, Minn., on March 31, 1921. He grew up mainly in Mount Lebanon, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh, where he attended high school. He attended Oglethorpe University, where he met his late and treasured wife Betty. He received his doctorate in philosophy from Northwestern University.

A university professor, Goldthwait taught briefly at colleges in California before spending most of his career at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. There he served both as dean of the faculty of humanities and as professor of philosophy. His professional works include a translation of Immanuel Kant"s "Observations on the Feeling of the Beautiful and Sublime" and "Value, Language & Life" in which he advanced his own values theory. He was the author of numerous professional articles, and during his years of retirement he penned several novels.

John and Betty chose St. Augustine as their retirement home in 1984 after vacationing here for several years. He was active in several civic and professional organizations in the area and a frequent contributor of letters to the editor of The St. Augustine Record.

Goldthwait is survived by his only son, Christopher, and several nephews and nieces. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, 2013, at the Craig Funeral Home.