Beth Hoffman Goodfriend, of West Haven passed away peacefully on February 8, 2020 in Yale New Haven Hospital. Born on December 9, 1942 daughter of the late Irving and Helen (Teitelman) Hoffman. She is survived by her brother Michael Hoffman, her children Amy Landino and Brian (Evan) Scall; the lights of her life, her grandchildren David Landino, Mason Scall, Niyol Scall and her dogs Eli and Waldo; as well as her Aunt Gertrude Lerman, sister-in-law Joan Dempsey, and her cousins, nieces and nephew. She was pre-deceased by her loving husband Charles Goodfriend.
For the past 21 years Beth battled stage 4 lung cancer. There were many ups, downs and everything in between. She never gave up and sought out every treatment possible. She lived a remarkable 21+ years after being diagnosed. She was one of the lucky ones. Her motto was “second effort”. She never understood why anyone would give up after their first attempt at anything especially on the ice. Beth loved spending time with her family and friends especially her grandchildren. Beth’s passion was ice skating. She auditioned her senior year of high school for the Shipstads & Johnson Ice Follies and joined the show shortly after graduation. She went on to teach ice skating in New Haven at Edgewood Park and the New Haven Arena. From there she went on to start the West Haven Parks & Recreation Learn to Skate and club program. She was the Skating Director of the Milford Ice Pavilion for 29 years as well as the Skating Director for the Northford Ice Pavilion for 4 years before retiring in 2004 due to her illness. She loved being an ice-skating coach and remained close with many of her students and their families over the years. Some became her extended family. She also loved hockey. She was the first in the state to offer power skating lessons to hockey players and took pride in mentoring other coaches to do the same. Some of her students went on to play at Division I Schools as well as the NHL. She was the skating coach for several hockey teams and programs; the New Haven Blades, the University of New Haven, Fairfield Prep, Notre Dame of Fairfield, Yale Youth Hockey Association to name a few.
When Beth wasn’t skating, she loved to work on craft projects with her best friend Kathy Hines or go antiquing with her friends Pat Maniscalco and Sandy Britton. She also loved to attend her grandson David’s hockey, lacrosse, baseball and soccer games. She was so proud of him, and very happy she was well enough to be with him, when he graduated from college. She looked forward to receiving new pictures, video messages and phone calls from her grandson’s Mason and Niyol but mostly their visits. Her favorite place was Martha’s Vinyard. She loved the painted cottages and would go every chance she got with her husband Charlie. Her last visit there was for Brian and Evans wedding and always spoke of it with such pride and love. Beth loved anything Disney and Mickey mouse was her favorite. She was also an avid bird lover. She was always looking in her bird books to identify new visitors to her yard. She also loved plants and flowers. Wildflowers were her favorite. At one time she and her friends Bunny and Roseann owned a plant store called The Transplant. She loved spending Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter with her extended family; Sandy McCauley, Sean McCauley(Erin), Terri Graf(Rob) and their children.
Her family would like to thank the following people for taking such wonderful care of her over the last few years and months; her amazing, caring nurses at Yale New Haven Hospital, Mark, Julie, Allison, Joleen, Sierra, and Madeline, as well as Gena, Casey and Carol for their guidance and support. Her aides Kayla, Latisha, Andrea and Stephanie from Aides & Companions, Debi and Santi. Beth used to say, “Never say goodbye, say see you later”. “Totseins” - Until we meet again!!!
A “Celebration of Life” will be held on Monday February 17, 2020 from 4-7pm at Duffy’s Tavern, 241 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516. Please join us for light bites and libations.
Memorial contributions can be made to Ronald McDonald House Charities or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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