Dr. Charlotte Margolis Goodman, 90, died peacefully on June 8, 2024, surrounded by her loved ones. She and her twin sister Vivian were born on April 13, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York, to Margaret (Margie) and Moe (Mickey) Margolis who were both Jewish immigrants from Ukraine. The twins had a beloved older sister Anuita (Nutey).

Charlotte lived in Brooklyn until she left home for college. She graduated from Midwood High School and attended Wellesley College from 1951-1955. In 1955, Charlotte married David Goodman, a medical student at Harvard. She earned an M.A. in the Teaching of English from Harvard College in 1956. She and David then moved to Bethesda, Maryland where she took graduate courses at the University of Maryland while David worked at the National Institutes of Health. Their first child, Andrea (Andy) was born in 1958, and the following year the Goodmans moved to New York where their second child Matthew was born in 1960. The Goodmans then returned to Boston for David’s continued medical training. In 1964 they moved to Delmar, New York, where David became the Head of Endocrinology at Albany Medical Center. Their son Jeffrey was born shortly after the move.

While caring for her three young children, Charlotte completed her doctorate in English and American Literature at Brandeis University. In 1974, Charlotte was hired by Skidmore College as an English professor, receiving tenure in 1980. For 27 years, she taught courses in writing, fiction, drama, and women’s literature. She also helped to develop the women’s studies major and championed the causes of women and minorities. Her publications and conference papers focused on the works of women, including the forgotten novel Weeds (1923) by Edith Summers Kelly to which she contributed a biographical and critical afterward. Her feminist biography Jean Stafford: The Savage Heart was published by the University of Texas Press in 1990. She was a much-loved teacher and mentor, known for her energy, humor, and passion for her subject.

In 2008, she and David moved to Charlottesville, Virginia to reside at The Colonnades retirement community. David passed away in 2011, and Charlotte remained in Independent Living for many years, leading numerous literary-focused groups, including play reading, memoir writing, and the art of the short story. She also taught literature courses at OLLI and was well known for her enthusiasm and depth of knowledge. In 2019, Charlotte moved to the Assisted Living unit of the Colonnades where she developed close relationships with her caregivers. She was very content in her last years thanks to the dedication, compassion, and excellent care provided by the Colonnades staff, as well as frequent visits from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed going for walks around the grounds, attending exercise classes, and eating egg salad bagels from Bodos, shrimp with snow peas and wood ear mushrooms from Peter Chang’s, and beef kabobs from Sticks.

Throughout her life, Charlotte was deeply invested in personal relationships. Perhaps this began in the womb, where her lifelong loving friendship with her twin sister Vivian began. Everywhere she went, she developed caring and loyal friendships. While in her final years she had trouble reaching out to old friends and extended family, she spoke of them frequently and was sustained by the memory of their connection.

Charlotte was pre-deceased by her husband David and her sister Anuita Blanc. She is survived by her sister Vivian Rosenberg, daughter Andrea Hansell (Richard Ogden), son Matthew Goodman (Valerie Goodman), son Jeffrey Goodman (Margot Atuk), grandchildren Julia Preston, Julie Hansell, Adam Hansell, Sadie Goodman, Jonah Goodman, and great-grandchildren Emil, Felix, and Ana- Sofía.

In lieu of flowers, consider picking up a book by an author from a marginalized community, reading it in a hammock in the shade, and then discussing it with a friend. Donations in her memory may be made to Planned Parenthood, Habitat for Humanity, Hospice of the Piedmont, or the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).

Condolences may be shared with the family on the tribute wall.

For more on services and to share your condolences, visit Hill and Wood Funeral Service.