Susan (Martin) Goodrich, 46, of Marquette, MI, died Sunday, January 11, 2009 after giving birth to her son, Charles Moses Martin Goodrich.
An associate professor of modern languages and literature at Northern Michigan University since 1998, Susan was recognized for her dedication to innovative teaching, her commitment to a proactive, highly qualified faculty, and her key role in internationalizing the curriculum.
Susan was a Latin American scholar who traveled widely. In 2008, with her family in tow, she conducted grant-based research in Spain and gave a scholarly paper in Costa Rica. She recently received the TLC Award from NMU for exemplary use of notebook computers in teaching for her project “Brazilianizing the Curriculum: Integrating Online Authentic Cultural Resources into Language Coursework.” Designed for an accelerated Portuguese-language classroom, the project linked language instruction, living culture, and Brazil’s role in the world. She frequently took students abroad, including a trip to Peru in 2006, in which she divided teaching duties with her historian husband.
Susan earned her doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley, her master’s degree from Middlebury College, and her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University.
She was outspoken with a marvelously acerbic wit. She was imaginative, perceptive and articulate, and peppered her conversations with stories from the literature she taught. She was a loyal and kind-hearted friend, with a calming presence and a mirthful giggle.
She loved her family and reveled in watching her children explore the world. She was devoted advocate for the needs of her children, and a conscientious, supportive mother.
Susan is survived by her infant son, Charles Moses Martin Goodrich; her daughters, Julia Charlotte Martin Goodrich, and Emma Rose Martin Metcalf; her son, Nicholas William Martin Metcalf; her husband, Robert Goodrich; her parents Florence and Thomas Martin of Winchester, MA; her sister, Judy Martin; nephews, Timothy and Taylor Holdaway of Tucson, Ariz.; brothers, Gary Martin of Arlington, MA and Tom Martin of Oakland, Calif.; and aunt, Geraldine Sullivan of Winchester, Mass.
A Memorial Mass will be held in St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St., Winchester, on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Foundation Fighting Blindness, P.O. Box 17279, Baltimore, MD 21203-7279.