James A. Goodman, 82

James Goodman

NAPLES — The Honorable James A. Goodman, 82, of Naples and Boca Raton, Fla., passed away on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019.

He was a loving husband, father, and papa to 10 grandchildren.

Jim was born in Bangor on March 21, 1936, to Samuel Goodman and Hilda (Friedman) Goodman. He attended Hebron Academy, Tufts University, and graduated from Boston University School of Law in 1961. His primary career focus was bankruptcy law, serving at times as an attorney, judge and a mediator/arbitrator after retiring from the bench. He served as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Maine, 1981–2001 and chief judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maine, 1990–1997. Throughout his judicial career, he presided over courts in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Florida, Puerto Rico and Louisiana in cases involving a wide variety of industries. His later career involved many interesting and unusual activities, including holding a license to operate power plants by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Educating others was important to him and he traveled to several countries to teach programs on bankruptcy in conjunction with his work with USAID, Meridian International, World Bank and numerous other organizations.

Among his greatest loves was spending time in his workshop creating beautiful furniture for his family and friends. Baby cradles, rocking horses, poker tables, desks and an ark for the local synagogue to name a few. He enjoyed antique automobiles, and once restored two English automobiles, a Morgan and a MG TD.

His other great love was his family and he cherished every moment he could spend with them.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marjorie (Golden) Goodman; his children, Lisa (Goodman) Stern, Joseph Goodman, David Goodman and Samuel Goodman; and 10 grandchildren. He is also survived by three siblings, Michael Goodman, Ronda (Goodman) Grodberg and Hannah (Goodman) Obstler.

Services were held at Temple Beth El, 400 Deering Avenue, Portland, on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m. Interment followed at Temple Beth El Memorial Park, 1 Johnson Road, Portland. A reception was held after interment at Falmouth Country Club.

Shiva was held at the home of Joseph and Hilary Goodman, 92 Alice Street, Portland, on Wednesday, Feb. 13, and Thursday, Feb. 14, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., and Friday, Feb. 15 from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in Jim’s memory may be made to JARC Florida, 21160 95th Avenue South, Boca Raton, Fla. 33428 (www.jarcfl.org/donate/).