Madeline R. Goodwin, 88

LOS ANGELES – Madeline R. Goodwin, a communal activist, died on Sept. 30. She was the wife of the late Eugene S. Goodwin, a prominent Beverly Hills attorney. They had been married for 63 years.

Mrs. Goodwin’s family had deep roots in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her paternal great-grandfather, Samuel Rosenthal, fought with the Union during the Civil War and established a printing business lasting four generations. The daughter of George and Marion Rosenthal, she followed in his footsteps to Cornell University.

She spent almost her entire adult life in Los Angeles and, for the same length of time, was a member of Wilshire Boulevard Temple. She considered her uncle and aunt, Rabbi Edgar and Evelyn Magnin, to be second parents.

She supported numerous organizations, including: Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Jewish Federation, United Way, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, ACLU Foundation, and the Democratic Party. She was the first woman president of Woodcraft Rangers, a youth group, and served on its board for half a century. She also served on the advisory board of Hebrew Union College’s School of Jewish Communal Service for more than three decades.

Mrs. Goodwin was an excellent cook and gardener, a better bridge player than golfer, a fierce UCLA Bruins and Dodgers fan, and a world traveler.

She is survived by her three children: Theodore and Susan Goodwin of Sacramento, Calif.; George and Betsey Goodwin of Providence; and Betty and Keith Klevan of Los Angeles. She is also survived by her five grandchildren and many nephews and nieces. 

Donations may be made to the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association or Temple Beth-El’s Braude Library.