Roger Goodman’s friends and family cheered as the newly minted nonagenarian entered the outdoor patio of the Subway sandwich shop on Webster Street for the celebration of his 90th birthday on Saturday, April 4.
Goodman, known by many as the “Mayor of Webster Street,” is a longtime Alameda resident, who, for decades, lived on Pacific Avenue just off Webster. Over the years, he would frequent nearly all the eateries and shops up and down the West End’s primary business corridor, but his favorites included Subway (formerly a Doggie Diner), Jack in the Box, Starbucks, Seelenbacher Jewelers, Nation’s Giant Hamburgers, and Domenico’s Italian Deli.
It was at these institutions where many of the acquaintances now hugging or sharing life updates with Goodman first encountered him, finding him to be a friendly face always willing to trade tidbits of history or offer timely life advice.
Tony and Cindy Atases met Goodman at Nation’s, when Cindy decided to strike up a conversation with him after noticing that he, like them, were regulars. That blossomed into a decades-long friendship.
“He’s got a heart of gold,” said Tony.
That resonated deeply with friends Jesse and Ana, who were grateful for Goodman’s compassion and willingness to help when he stepped in as a father figure after they both lost a parent.
“Sometimes, the Lord puts people in your life to guide you,” said Jesse. “That’s who Roger is.”
Two of Goodman’s longest compatriots, Roger Dong and Walter Morris, described him as a bona fide Renaissance man, owing to his voracious appetite for keeping up with local and national politics, history, and popular media. Goodman could often be found somewhere on Webster Street reading or writing letters and newsletters to friends, giving pointed commentary on the latest happenings in Alameda and beyond.
He also maintained a deep appreciation for automobiles and spent much of his time detailing cars by hand, sometimes even providing the service at no charge for friends, just out of sheer passion. He once served as a judge for the Concours d’Elegance car show at Alameda Point, and had even accumulated a massive collection of hundreds of Danbury Mint model cars that he would carefully dust each morning.
Councilmember Tony Daysog, who stopped by to offer well wishes to a fellow West End figurehead, recalled that he first met Goodman on the campaign trail during his first campaign for City Council in the mid-1990s. They immediately bonded over a shared interest in American presidents and have had many conversations over the years.
“He is a fun guy who loves American history,” Daysog told the Alameda Post.
Recently, however, Goodman’s health has begun to slip. After a fall and a few other health mishaps, Morris and the Ataseses helped move Goodman into a new apartment in central Alameda and got in touch with his nephew, Sean Bradshaw. Goodman never married or had children and, according to Tony Atases, is “strong-willed” about remaining “independent,” so Bradshaw stepped up and also enlisted friend Chacha Dillon to help take care of his uncle.
These days, though he is situated a bit further from his beloved street, Goodman often has friends and family rotating through his home to provide advice and support, just like he has done for them for many years along Webster. In organizing the birthday celebration, Bradshaw and Dillon gave everyone the chance to catch up, sing “Happy Birthday,” and share cake with Goodman.
“It is a testament to how much he is loved in the community, seeing how some of his old friends, many of whom are mobility impaired, made the effort to come see him today,” said Bradshaw.
And even though the occasion was meant to celebrate the man that has had such a meaningful impact on people’s lives, Goodman made sure that the conversations were a two-way street, stopping by each table to chat and, of course, offer his signature life advice or latest take on hybrid cars.
He even offered readers of the Post a trick for longevity: “The secret to a long life is many, many interests,” revealed Goodman. “Reading thirty books a year makes you think!”
Ken Der is a contributing writer for the Alameda Post. Contact him via [email protected]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Ken-Der.
