Thomas L. Goodman ’51

Thomas L. Goodman ’51 of Sweden, Maine, died on March 7, 2021. Described by those who knew him best as an “iconoclastic, rugged individual,” Tom lived a life of exotic travel and adventure. He wandered the jungles of Thailand, seeking signs of stone-age tribes. In Vietnam he was a provincial officer in charge of coordination with the South Vietnamese Special Police. He loved Africa, joining numerous safaris into remote areas of East Africa and boating on the Nile. A skilled photographer, many of his trips were underwritten by manufacturers of photographic equipment. Along the way he sought out lost dinosaur remains and Nazi gold. His education was in geography, at Dartmouth and Clark University, where he earned a master’s. Tom had a strong interest in documentary cinematography. Exotic liqueurs and intriguing foods were other passions, leading to many award-winning entries to cooking contests. His barn in Maine displayed a sea of blue ribbons recognizing his prowess as a vegetable grower and cook. In Maine Tom’s interests included wandering the Appalachian Trail, snorkeling and scuba diving, hunting, skiing and snowshoeing, and restoring his old home. He served as Sweden’s fire chief, as a dedicated member of the town’s historical society, and as a selectman who once proposed the town’s secession from Maine to become part of New Hampshire. Perhaps his greatest love was for dogs, especially yellow Labrador retrievers.