The Marblehead Museum will host a celebration of life for Standley Goodwin at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion and Brick Kitchen on Thursday, Oct. 15, 4-6 p.m. The celebration will be open to the public. Family and museum staff and
associates will speak about Goodwin’s life and service to the town.
Goodwin died Sept. 28 at the age of 88.
Goodwin graduated from Marblehead High, Class of 1956, and studied aeronautical engineering at MIT. He spent his entire career at MIT and Draper Labs and also worked with NASA on the Apollo space program.
“We as a family were told early on what he was doing was classified,” Goodwin’s sister, Harriett Gowell told the Current. “We did not know and we didn’t ask.”
Later, Goodwin became one of Marblehead Museum’s chief benefactors and longest-serving docents.
“Standley Goodwin was a definitive, irreplaceable pillar of the Marblehead community, leaving behind an enduring legacy of historical preservation, quiet humility and a lifelong dedication to the town he lived in and loved his entire life,” Marblehead Museum President Patty Pederson told the Current. “Standley gave back to his hometown in countless capacities, anchoring himself as a cornerstone of local heritage.”
Goodwin was the driving force behind the purchase of the Jeremiah Lee Brick Kitchen and Slave Quarters at 157 Washington St.
“He recognized the immense historical value of reuniting the property,” Pederson said. “Today, the building’s climate-controlled second floor, housing the museum’s extensive archival collections, research facilities and over 40,000 historic documents, stands proudly in his honor as the Standley Goodwin Research Center. He was so proud of this.”
Goodwin grew up near Old Burial Hill and researched and lectured about it.
“He took a photograph of every single grave,” Gowell said. “He was very interested in Old Burial Hill and knew it needed help.”
Goodwin also built and sailed model boats on Redd’s Pond. “He built the boats to perfect specifications,” Gowell said. “He raced boats until a couple of years ago.”
Asked what she hopes people will remember about her brother, Gowell said, “He was a good person and an interesting person.”
