Frank A. Goodfellow III, 80, formerly of Haddonfield (HMHS class of 1955) died on May 28 of natural causes.
Frank A. Goodfellow III, 80, formerly of Haddonfield (HMHS class of 1955) died on May 28 of natural causes, peacefully surrounded by his family at the UVMC in Burlington,VT. Frank spent his last years in the Green Mountains of Northern VT with his ex wife Joan Tracy (also HMHS ’55) breathing clean air and eating home cooked meals.
He was born on June 8 1937 in Holidaysburg, PA and moved to Haddonfield in 1949. Frank held degrees from the College of Wooster OH and Drexel University. Besides working summers as a railroad brakeman and delivery driver, he worked nearly 40 years in education. First as a school principal in SJ in the mid 60s and then as a professor of education at Glassboro State and Rowan University, retiring as Emeritus Professor of Education in 2000. Many teachers in the South Jersey community attended his classes and some of them taught his grandchildren. An active, popular and engaged teacher Frank was also active with his union, the AFT, and social activism most of his adult life. He volunteered and taught in Camden, where he is featured prominently on a mural next to the Newton Friends Meeting House, of which he was a member. He took part in civil rights, anti apartheid and other protests in our area and in Washington, D.C.
He was also active in Haddonfield, coaching little league (Fox&Lazo) baseball, running for commissioner in the early 70s and volunteering at the Public Library. He was a good man and role model. His many grandchildren heard amusing and instructive stories from him until his recent development of Alzheimers. They all loved his generous manner and benefitted from learning about their heritage.
Frank received many awards and accolades during his teaching tenure and served as chairman of his department, but was a modest and unpretentious man. Raised Presbyterian, he joined the Society of Friends, being active in the Haddonfield, Woodbury, Camden and Philadelphia meetings at different times. He tried to follow the tenets of modesty, simplicity and pacifism while still maintaining strong principles and moral convictions.
Frank also claimed to have run a school record mile in 1955. He wrestled and ran cross country in college as well.
He was a great storyteller, joker ,helper and sociable man. He is survived by three sons David(Monica) of Moorestown, Andrew (Chauncey) of Philadelphia and Pat(Peggy) of Haddonfield; two daughters, Bronwyn Lepore and Martha, both of Philadelphia; 12 grandchildren, Amoreena and Dominic Lepore, Alex , Eleanor and Catie and Malcolm; two former wives, Joan Tracy and Beth Mutch; and he was predeceased by his parents and his sister Martha.
Services will be private. A memorial service will be held in Cape May in August.
