John Goodale

1952 - 2025

GOODALE, John Bowditch, 72, died on July 14, 2025. He was born on December 29, 1952, in Framingham, Massachusetts, and was the son of Dr. Fairfield Goodale and Mary Margaret Lyman Goodale. John graduated from St. Christopher's School in 1971 and from Boston University with a degree in Broadcasting and Film in 1975. He was a founding partner of Animation Technologies, a company that designed, developed, and produced animation to explain complex medical and legal concepts, and was the sole proprietor of John Goodale Associates, writing and producing media in the realm of medical education and processes.



John died at home in Crozier, Virginia, surrounded by the love of his life, Martha, to whom he was married for 46 years, his three children, and his dog. John adored his daughters and was oh so proud of the strong, bright, kind, and competent people they have grown into. He loved when they asked for his counsel but had quiet confidence that they already knew the right answer. His seven grandchildren brought him chuckles, occasional surprises, and a lovely joie de vivre. Lovingly called "Inky" by his grandchildren, John was known to do his morning Sudoku in ink, one reckless habit he carried into his old age. Although he proclaimed himself a curmudgeon, he wasn't fooling anybody.



John was pragmatic, witty, curious, and beloved by friends and family. He was fiercely loyal and had a great sense of humor. Whether it was teaching how to drive a stick shift on the fly, to use light to capture that picture, or to return the kitchen to its "original luster," John was generous with his knowledge and experience. Although it mattered to John that you refrained from giving him accolades, he always talked up the accomplishments of friends who were not in the room. John did good things because they were the right thing to do. A producer in life as well as work, he quietly worked behind the scenes to coordinate things that were important to him to happen. He was the brains and the brawn behind the bi-annual APG family reunion, scouting venues to accommodate the far-spread and large Goodale clan and taking care of the tiniest details in hopes of drawing together as many of the motley crew as possible.



Throughout his life, John espoused three rules: 1) Honesty is the only policy, 2) Time is money, and 3) No a**holes on the set. While these rules originated from his work as a writer, director, and video producer, he lived these words with fidelity. John was honest to a fault, never out of malice but because it was his way and he valued this kind of integrity in others. Time was money to John - only in that frittering away time inefficiently was anathema to his character. He spent his time doing what he wanted and what he cared about. The third rule goes without explanation.



Rarely a day went by that John did not spend time in the woods, whether it was felling trees and chopping wood for the wood stoves in Sherborn, running through the forest and up and down the sand pits in Groton, or walking his paths in Crozier with Finn. One video production project of which he was especially proud was a nature-photography documentary that he filmed in Alaska. He found peace and comfort in the solitude of nature and welcomed friends and animals to join him.



John was the embodiment of rugby's ethos of a hooligans' game played by gentlemen. He played hard, fair, and well, challenging himself and the competition. He made friendships through rugby and maintained them for life. He first played with the Richmond Rugby Football Club, later joined the Boston Rugby Football Club, and his final days of playing were with the Boston Brahmins Old Boys XV. After his playing days, he remained involved in the Richmond Rugby Foundation. In Richmond and Boston, hearty toasts have been and will continue to be made in his honor.



John will be remembered in the countless stories that his family, neighbors, teammates, and colleagues will tell with gusto, as there is no shortage of fodder. He was cracking jokes with friends and family until his last day. John is survived by his wife, Martha Lowe Goodale; their three children, Sarah Elliott Goodale Donohue (Patrick) of Holliston, Mass., Strings Chappell Goodale of Bumpass, Va., and Dr. Margaret Bennet Goodale (Ema) of Clarksburg, Md. John and Martha have seven grandchildren: Charlotte, Lucy, Acre, Hannah, Peregrine, Margaret, and Emmy. John is also survived by his siblings, Anna Goodale Peterson (Harvey) of Fearington, NC., Dr. Susan Cabot Goodale (Chris) of Hudson, WI, and Timothy Pickering Goodale (Kathy) of Belcherton, Mass., and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. And we certainly wouldn't want to forget John's beloved dog, Finn. John was predeceased by his older brother Fairfield Goodale, Jr (Lindsay) of Brooklin, Me.



A celebration of John's life will be held at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco, Maine on September 27th at 11:00am, with a reception to follow. True to John's nature, toasts and stories will be encouraged. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Richmond Rugby Foundation or the Alpha-1 Foundation. For more information, please email meggoodale@gmail.com.