Remembering Richard E. Goodman, UC Berkeley professor emeritus, pioneer of rock mechanics, founder of Berkeley Opera

Richard “Dick” E. Goodman, a UC Berkeley professor of geological engineering who founded the Berkeley Opera Company, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on March 10. He was 89.

Dick lived a vibrant and very active life, inspiring and mentoring people from around the world. Ironically, he didn’t have a conventional education — his parents Pauline and Herbert Goodman figured out early on that he was a musical genius, and sent him at a young age to Spielter’s School in New York City, where he studied piano for most hours of the day. At the age of 15, he was awarded a Ford Foundation Scholarship and received a full ride to the University of Wisconsin, and thus never graduated high school.

He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in Geology and an master’s degree in Civil Engineering and Economic Geology from Cornell, and a Ph.D. in Geological Engineering from UC Berkeley in 1964. Dick became a UC Berkeley professor in 1964, and over the course of his academic career wrote and published five books and over 200 articles in journals and conference proceedings. He retired as professor emeritus in 1994. He also received numerous national and international awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship; the Rankine Lecture from the British Geotechnical Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE); and the American Rock Mechanics Association 2005 Award for Outstanding Contributions in Rock Mechanics.

Dick’s exciting life included spending six months in 1957 on Baffin Island, based out of Cape Dorsett, where he worked for Belcher conducting mineral prospecting. He camped among the polar bears in sub-zero temperatures, learned to communicate with the local Inuit people in their language, traveled around the area by dog sled, and survived many harrowing adventures. His many other adventures included consulting projects in every state of the union and throughout South America, Asia, South Africa, and Europe. He traveled to South America countless times for consulting projects. 

Closer to the homefront, Goodman was a passionate and brilliant musician. He traveled throughout the Bay Area to sing in opera productions, and in 1979 founded the Berkeley Opera Company with the support of his cellist wife Lillian “Sue” Goodman, and directed it for 13 years. He put on over 30 full stage productions. He performed over 70 major roles in operas for several companies, including roles such as Figaro, Leporello, Falstaff and Rigoletto.

He was a beloved mentor to 39 Ph.D. students, most of whom were welcomed as family during their doctoral studies and maintained enduring relationships for decades. As well, he had very close musical mentees and companions.

Dick was an ardent lover of nature and passionate defender of wildlife and natural resources. He also was an extremely quick wit and always had a pun ready for every conversation. He never concerned himself with what other people thought, and was never afraid to stand up for what he believed. Family, friends and colleagues remember him as “a force” and celebrate his eternal “boyish joy”.

Professor Goodman moved to Alaska along with his wife in 2022 to be near his family. He is survived by Sue Goodman, his beloved wife of over 67 years; his daughter Lilly Goodman-Allwright; sons-in laws Michael Allwright and Eric Cohn; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his two daughters Holly Cohn and Paula Goodman and several beloved dogs.

His enduring advice is: 1) Make and say beautiful things, 2) It never hurts to try or to ask, and 3) Never eat the cake on the airplane.