Charles Milton Goldman's Obituary
Charles Milton Goldman, born a poor child, raised a small Jewish boy, the middle of three boys, in a typical Jewish community. Long Beach.
Some obituaries are a recitation of one’s life accomplishments. For Milt that might go something like: He loved sailing, swimming, and music. In high school he joined every group, participated in every activity available. He and his brothers and father were in a quartet together, he marched in the band, escorting soldiers to the train station for World War II. He joined the Navy. He lived his life to the fullest, raising his 4 children, an adopted stepdaughter, and numerous grandchildren of his own and one or more of his wives. He owned his own restaurants in Washington D.C. and a catering company. This alone would have been enough. But, when he retired from his real job, he became a D.J. on Jefferson Public Radio in Ashland, Oregon where he was loved for his classical music programs, educating the community on the lesser-known details of the music he played. He traveled extensively around the world, he exercised daily, ate healthy food, and surprisingly changed his genetic trajectory through these lifelong habits. Alzheimer’s runs deep in the Goldman/Newman genes. Milt had it, but you wouldn’t have known it. He hid it well. He fought it off and in the end it killed him when he could no longer swallow. But, he won. He remembered his loved ones to the end. His sense of humor remained intact, his love of life continued to the end. Milt is survived by his four children: Karen of Kensington Maryland; Joel of Oregon; David of Laguna Woods, California; and Lisa (Bruce) of Madison, Wisconsin; his grandchildren Brady, Taylor, Spencer, Hannah, Naomi, Katrina, and Abby; His brother Jerry (Barbara), sister-in-law Judy, many cousins, nephews, nieces, and a huge extended family of friends in Ashland, Oregon, Washington D.C., and Century Village, Boca Raton. He is predeceased by his parents, Gertie and Al, his older brother Lou, and younger half-brother he never met also named Al, and his grandson Riley.
But, Milt’s obituary cannot be typical because Milt was not typical. If life was something you ate, Milt would have been quite obese.
His obituary should say: Milt Goldman, 89, of Boca Raton, Florida, procrastinated his death. He saved Jewish children in the Holocaust on the Kinder Transport, pen palling peers. He grew up with famous comedians such as Marty Brill and Alan Schulman. He wrote Mel Brooks’ funniest productions in his dreams. Wives and children, Milt believed, should either be consumed or created: the more, the better. He discovered the cure to Alzheimer’s Disease. He created the Ruben sandwich. He knew you never make a roast beef sandwich with white bread and corned beef should be steamed not dry.
Humor moved his spirit. Classical music moved his soul. And, Viagra moved the rest of him. Although he taught us different life lessons, these were the ones by which he lived.
What’s your fondest memory of Charles?
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