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Clifford James Goodman, Jr., MD, FACOG was born to Clifford James Goodman, MD, and Leoma Earlene Ellsworth on April 11, 1943, in Washington, D.C., where his father was studying medicine. Cliff's father started a family practice in Chandler, Arizona in 1951, and the Goodmans became pillars of the community. At forty years of age the family held a Life Begins at Forty Party for Cliff Senior and he passed away that year, leaving Cliff Junior, at eighteen, the eldest of eight children.
Cliff's grandparents set the example for his father of being involved in medicine. His grandmother, Clara
Platt, and grandfather, George Nicholas Goodman, were both trained pharmacists. His grandfather served as the Mayor of Mesa five times during the 1930's, 1940's, and 1950's.
Cliff skipped the eleventh grade and graduated from Chandler High School as salutatorian in 1960. On an academic scholarship he attended The University of Chicago. Later he attended both The University of Arizona and Arizona State University in order to be closer to home due to the passing of his father.
Pausing higher education for two and a half years to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Germany during 1963 - 1965 he gained fluency in German that he maintained throughout his life. He met his beautiful wife Herta Ingeborg Nadina Hofstatter in Hamburg, Germany, and they were married in August 1966.
Following his namesake to George Washington University School of Medicine, he graduated with his Doctor of Medicine in 1971. During his final year, he earned the Kane-King Obstetrical Society Award as the outstanding senior student in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Staying in D.C., he completed his specialty training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at George Washington University Hospital in the spring of 1974.
Dr. Goodman served in the United States Navy as a medical officer for 2 years stationed at the Marine Corps Base at Twenty-Nine Palms, California. With every leave, to pay the bills for his growing family, he covered a practice in Mesa from June 1974 to June 1976. During those years he spent much of his time at Chandler Regional Hospital, where his father had been the first Chief of Staff when it opened in 1961. With Nadina by his side, they opened a practice on June 23, 1976. Today the practice they created, MomDoc, serves the Phoenix metropolitan area and the Arizona White Mountains.
Throughout his career, Dr. Goodman has held many leadership roles at what is now named Chandler Regional Medical Center, including serving as one of two OB/GYNs that have been Chief of Staff and as the only Chief of Staff that has served two terms. He was personally recruited by Eddie Basha to modernize the labor and delivery department, and during one of his terms as Chief of Staff the hospital relocated from McQueen and Chandler Boulevard to where it stands today. Much was done before, and much was lost when, he retired from the practice of medicine in 2016. Dr. Goodman never stopped being a doctor since with him it was not a job, it was not a career, it was a definition.
Early evening May 29, 2022 Clifford J. Goodman, Jr., MD, FACOG passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving wife, six children, and many other loved ones in Show Low, Arizona. He is mourned by many, including wife Nadina, children Clifford (the third), Peter, Nick, Matthias, Dana, Michael, their respective spouses, his eighteen grandchildren, and his living siblings of Pam, Susan, and Traci. He leaves a legacy of selfless service. We honor him and cherish our association.
Viewing: Friday, June 3, 2022 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Goodman Home
602 N Bullmoose Dr
Chandler, AZ 85224
ALL INVITED
Funeral: Saturday, June 4, 2022 9:00am
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
1950 W Galveston St
Chandler, AZ 85224
ALL INVITED
Celebration of Life Luncheon: Saturday, June 4, 2022 1:00pm-3:00pm
Republic National Distributing Company
402 S 54th Pl
Phoenix, AZ 85034
ALL INVITED
