Obituary: Lillian Goodman, Former Acting Dean of Nursing

Lillian Rachel Goodman, 94 of Shrewsbury, former professor and acting dean of the School of Nursing and a leader in nursing education and practice, died Jan. 24. 

Born in Hanover, New Hampshire, on May 20, 1923, she graduated from Lebanon High School and attended the University of Michigan. She earned her nursing diploma from Peter Bent Brigham Hospital School of Nursing and subsequently her bachelor’s and master’s in nursing and her doctorate in education, all from Boston University. 

She served the state Department of Mental Health as assistant chief of psychiatric nurses from 1963-69.

She joined UMass Amherst as professor and associate dean of nursing in 1969 and was named acting dean in 1970.

In 1973, she left to create the Worcester State College School of Nursing Department, currently known as the Lillian R. Goodman Department of Nursing. While serving as professor and department chair, she consulted nationally and internationally and authored several publications on nursing.

In 1991, she became dean and professor of the University of Massachusetts Medical School Graduate School of Nursing, serving in this position until her retirement in 1999. During her tenure, the school began offering a collaborative Ph.D program with the UMass Amherst.  

She received honorary doctorates from UMass Worcester in 1991 and Worcester State College in 1999.

After retirement, she continued to perform community service in health and education.   

She is survived by her lifetime companion of 45 years, Mary K. Alexander of Shrewsbury; and her brother, Joseph Goodman and his wife Patricia of Nashua, New Hampshire.

Memorial services will be held at a later date. Burial will be in Sharon Memorial Park in Sharon.

Contributions in her name may be made to the Worcester State Foundation, 486 Chandler St., Worcester 01602. Please note in memo portion of the check “Dr. Lillian R. Goodman Fund for Nursing Excellence.” Gifts in her memory may also be directed to the Greater Worcester Community Foundation (for the Lillian R. Goodman/Mary K. Alexander Fund for Nursing Education and Research), 370 Main St., Suite #650, Worcester 01608.