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Bruce Goodrow Obituary
ROGERSVILLE - Bruce Arthur Goodrow, 81, of Rogersville, TN, passed away at James H. Quillen VA Medical Center in Johnson City, TN, on February 13, 2023 with his beloved wife Becky by his side. Bruce was a Hawkins County resident for more than 26 years. He was active on multiple community boards and developed numerous health care programs. He was instrumental in the design and implementation of the Kellogg Foundation Grant, a collaborative mission of the ETSU Colleges of Public Health, Nursing, and Medicine to improve medical care in rural East Tennessee. He was most proud of the work that he was able to do for the Veterans Administration.
He lived a full and exhilarating life encompassing over 30 years in higher education. He served as a faculty member at State University of New York, University of Tennessee, Western Kentucky University, Minnesota State University, and spent the last 18 years of his career as a professor in the College of Public Health at East Tennessee State University. Upon retirement he was honored as Professor Emeritus.
Dr. Goodrow earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from West Texas A&M and the University of Texas, a doctorate from the University of Tennessee, and completed postdoctoral studies in epidemiology at the University of Minnesota. Impacting many lives over the course of his academic career, he felt that the greatest gift to an educator is the interaction with the students. He treasured each and every one.
Bruce made friends easily and enjoyed many good long-lasting friendships with people of all walks of life. He possessed a sunny disposition, a mischievous sense of humor, and was a generous and giving friend.
An avid sportsman, Bruce pursued deer hunting and trout fishing with equal appreciation and enthusiasm. He left footprints from Maine to Alaska and enjoyed a special attraction for Lake Nipigon, Canada. A master fisherman since his youth, he took gleeful pride in out-fishing everyone, but was a patient and enthusiastic mentor for anyone who had the desire to learn to fish.
Born into a military family, Bruce served in the United States Army prior to and at the very beginning of the Vietnam War era. He was a Purple Heart recipient and a patriot throughout his life.
Bruce was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Seckner Goodrow and his father, Arthur William Goodrow. Left to cherish his memory are his devoted and loving wife of 25 years Rebecca Boyd Goodrow, and beloved family and friends throughout the United States and Canada.
His family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the entire staff at the Extended Care CLC at Mountain Home VA for their exceptionally kind and compassionate hospice care. Bruce chose to donate his body to Restore Life USA, a non-profit organization that restores life through tissue research (www.restorelifeusa.org).
In lieu of flowers Bruce and his family have asked that donations be made to his scholarship fund for students of rural health professions at ETSU. Donations can be mailed to Office of the Dean, College of Public Health, ETSU, Johnson City, TN 37614.
Honoring his wish, family and close friends will gather at a later time to celebrate Bruce's life.
"Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning's hush
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there; I did not die."
~Mary Elizabeth Frye, 1932
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Bruce Goodrow
Dave McCollum
April 23, 2023
Bruce was truly an avid outdoorsman. He spent several weeks even months staying in Orient Bay and fishing Lake Nipigon.(Ont Canada) He was game to catch pretty much any species of fish but he had a passion to catch and release Brooke Trout.
Often he would bring others along to enjoy the beauty and he would be more than happy to teach them all they needed to know about fishing in the north.
We got to know Bruce well over the years and always looked forward to his arrival and the fishing stories in the evening over a cocktail or two.
He will truly be missed
Wilsie Bishop
February 21, 2023
It was heartwarming to watch Bruce interact with his students in the ETSU Kellogg Program. He understood the meaning of "community" and set up scenarios that helped students understand the importance of understanding "community" also. Bruce enjoyed writing grants and teaching others how to gain extramural funding to support their work and their students. Bruce touched a lot of lives in his work and left a remarkable legacy for rural health care.
Kim Ferrell
February 20, 2023
My father, Dr. Joe Miller, was a Public Health professor during the time that Dr. Goodrow was teaching. He passed away 4 years ago, but I remember the kind words he always had about him and how much he enjoyed his conversations with him. He was very supportive of Dr. Goodrow's role in the programs established with the Kellogg Foundation and I know he would want me to pass that along to you. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Bruce Behringer
February 19, 2023
We will all meet together someday at a West Texas fishing hole. Good friend, wonderful teacher. Left a lot of people better for meeting him.
PAUL STANTON
February 18, 2023
I am so sorry to learn of Bruce´s passing. I had the great fortune of knowing and working with Bruce at ETSU from his early days with us. Always kind , friendly, trustworthy and helpful. We started our Kellogg initiative in 1991 and Bruce was a known leader, initiator, and the cornerstone in our Rogersville portion of the program. Kellogg would not have worked without the participation and leadership of Bruce. He will be remembered and loved forever/ Paul Stanton
Stephen Loyd
February 18, 2023
Bruce was our teacher in the Kellogg Program in Rogersville when I was in medical school. I loved everything about him. The principles he taught me with regard to community and population health have served me more than anything else I learned in my career. Bruce was one of a kind. I will always love him and I will try to honor him by utilizing the tools he gave me as a young medical student. I´ll miss you Bruce, the world is a little sadder now that you are not here.
Kristi Mathis
February 18, 2023
I was a recipient of a scholarship he funded and will always be very appreciative of his work and life. Sincere condolences to his family.
Bruce Bennard
February 17, 2023
Bruce was one of a kind - so very unique and a great colleague and friend. I was fellow "Kellogg Program" faculty member and worked closely with Bruce. Always positive and supportive. Great sense of humor which served all of us well. We shared a love of fly fishing and I will wet a line this spring in his memory.
Chuck Carson
February 17, 2023
My prayers are for Becky during this difficult time. I have lots of great memories made with Bruce hunting and fishing in Canada. He graciously shared many "secret" fishing spots on Lake Nipigon with me that he had spent years discovering. I will miss him and our long conversations. He was a special friend!
Anthony J. (Tony) DeLucia
February 17, 2023
My sincere condolences on the passing of a great man. Becky, I know you have suffered a terrible loss and wish you strength and resilience in times ahead.
Dr. Goodrow was always a very kind, supportive voice and collaborator. I gained a great deal from my interactions with him during years with rural health at ETSU. Lastly, in honor of his service to his country through the Armed Forces, I honor his years in the military with personal and professional efforts I can contribute in the quest to help Veterans. I am sure he would concur that much needs to be done in dealing with substance use disorder and other mental and physical health needs of our selfless Veterans living in this region and beyond.
Shana Johnson
February 17, 2023
Please accept my sincerest condolences. I was a recipient of his rural health scholarship. I am now a proud alumni of the College of Public Health at ETSU. Although I never had the pleasure of meeting him in person, Dr. Goodrow had a profoundly positive impact on my life. Thank you so very much and I can only hope to pay it forward in the future. His legacy lives on through the lives he helped transform.
Beatrice Wynn
February 17, 2023
As a supporter to the Public Health Dept at ETSU...my deepest sympathies to family and friends. May his memory always bring about good memories and his work be continued by new members in the field of Public Health.
Blessings,
The Wynn Family
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