Goodbye to the Goddards

I just heard today about the deaths of Steve and Marna Goddard on January 2 and 14, respectively, at ages 81 and 82. The West Grove couple, married for 56 years, will be missed for so many reasons.

The Goddards were the kind of distinctive people who give spice to a community. Their appearance alone made them instantly recognizable: Steve's long white beard and ponytail, Marna's old-fashioned braid wrapped around her head.

The couple donated the land that is now the popular Goddard Park in London Grove Township. And they were fixtures at every kind of cultural event in the area: Hadley Fund lectures, school and community theatrical productions, and concerts. They were regulars at the Anson B. Nixon summer concerts, so much so that we remarked on the rare Wednesday evening when they were absent. They always sat in the front row, and Steve would lug heavy wooden folding chairs for them to sit on.

We were not at all surprised to run into them at plays in Wilmington and at the Milburn Stone Theatre in North East, Maryland. 

I first met Steven when I was working at the Bayard Taylor Library. He did not want to have a computer at home, so he used the library's public computers (and grumbled when we told him his time was up and someone else was waiting!). I've since seen him using the computers at the Avon-Grove Library and I wouldn't be surprised if he is familiar to staffers at other local libraries as well. 

Here is their obituary:

Steven Jerome Goddard, age 81, of West Grove, Pennsylvania, passed away on January 2, 2021 at his home. He was the husband of Marna Mason Goddard, age 82, who passed away January 14, 2021.  They shared 56 years of marriage.

Steve was born in Louisville, Kentucky, graduated from Rice University, and earned his PhD from MIT.  He worked for DuPont.

Marna was born in Hartford, Connecticut, graduated from Earlham College, and earned her MA from Harvard.

Steve and his wife Marna were both music lovers and patrons of the arts, Steve hosted a radio show at WVUD for several years. Their love of nature, community, and conservancy was exemplified by their donation of land to London Grove Township which initiated what is now known as Goddard Park.

Steve and Marna were preceded in death by their son Chad Phillips Goddard, and survived by their daughter Laura Pogue.

Services and interment will be held privately.  Contributions in their memory may be made to London Grove Township/Goddard Park, 372 Rosehill Rd, West Grove, Pa. 19390.