Obituary of Bryan Douglas Goodwin

Bryan Douglas Goodwin, 66, passed on September 22, 2023, at home in South Hadley from brain cancer. His loving family was at his side.

Bryan had been a reference librarian at Mt. Holyoke College for 34 years before his retirement in March 2022. Previously he was employed at University of Maine in Orono.

Bryan was born in Philadelphia. He graduated summa cum laude from Villanova University in 1979. He earned an MA in teaching at Brown University in 1982,  MA in liberal studies at Wesleyan University in 1986, and MLS with honors in library science at Columbia University in 1986.

Bryan was an intellectual deeply curious about history, politics and cultures throughout the world with a special interest in World War II and the American Civil War. He was a serious reader and had prodigious recall. Since retiring, he delved into the world of novels.  He was a hands-on problem solver, and an inventive fix-it man.

Bryan was an avid outdoorsman who loved the water. He was an accomplished swimmer, a devoted bicyclist and a member of the Pioneer Valley Hiking Club. He earned a scuba certification and swam with the manatees in the crystalline waters of Florida. He also enjoyed scuba diving in the murky waters off the north shore of Boston.

He is survived by his lifelong partner Joan DelPlato, whom he married on June 27, 2023, his step-daughter Jilla DelPlato Benson (Christopher Hildebrand) of Philadelphia, and a brother Paul (Jacqueline Ramirez) Goodwin of Guelph, Ontario. Also surviving are many cousins, nieces, nephews, sisters- and brothers-in-law, many in Canada and the U.K.  Predeceasing him were his parents Pauline and Ernest (Chevrier) Goodwin, of Westland, MI.

Bryan loved to travel. With Joan he took several trips throughout Canada including a train expedition through the Canadian Rockies. In a teaching stint, they traveled to Burma/Myanmar via Doha, Qatar.  Recently, they took a river cruise on the Seine from Paris to Normandy. Cape Cod was his favorite getaway.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 13th, from 5-8 pm at Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home. A service will be held at First Congregational Church (Center Church) in South Hadley at 11 am on Saturday, October 14th, with the interment of cremains at Evergreen Cemetery in South Hadley.

Bryan Goodwin was dearly loved and will be missed.

Memorials may be made in Bryan's name to the Holyoke Public Library's Summer Reading Program in support of its literacy and nutrition programs. Contributions may be mailed to:  Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut Street, Holyoke MA 01040, att: Nancy.