Michael Francis Jude Goodman was born in Escondido, California, on March 23, 1950, to J.D. and Barbara Jean Goodman. Michael died in Eureka on March 31, 2026.

Michael first came to Humboldt County in 1973 to pursue a BA degree in Philosophy at Humboldt State. He graduated and married his beloved wife, Hollie Ann (née Shaffer), in 1975. Michael then took an MA in Philosophy from San Diego State in 1978 and a PhD in Philosophy from Michigan State in 1986.

He was hired as a lecturer at Humboldt State in 1984, secured a tenure-track position, in 1987, and climbed the ranks to full Professor of Philosophy. Michael retired in 2023. His areas of specialization in scholarship and teaching were logic, philosophy of science, epistemology and the philosophy of David Hume, although as a junior faculty he taught many different courses, such as the history of philosophy, epistemology, metaphysics/ontology, philosophy of law and moral philosophy/ethics. Michael published four books in philosophy and many papers in philosophical journals. One of his favorite academic activities was to read papers at conferences. He delivered papers in Oxford (UK), New York, Athens (Greece), Cordoba (Argentina), San Francisco, Los Angeles, Ann Arbor (Michigan) and many other places. Michael had an abiding love of classical literature, with a special place in his heart for Shakespeare and Dickens.

Michael contracted polio as an 18-month-old in 1951. Paralyzed from the waist down for eight months, he received daily therapy at the Children’s Hospital in San Diego. Multiple surgeries occurred over the years and he was ultimately able to engage in many sports activities. He was most passionate about surfing, baseball and racquetball. He couldn’t run fast but he always gave it all he had, whatever he tried. Music was another driving force in Michael’s life.

He was a musician and songwriter; he recorded 29 albums of music and played acoustic and electric guitars, bass, harmonica and some keyboard. He never liked the sound of his singing voice but he tried hard anyway.

Michael started surfing at Tamarak, in Carlsbad, in 1962. His last surf session was in Crescent City in 2011. He loved the waves, the salt water, the freedom of movement, bottom turns, cutbacks, some nose riding, trimming and just riding. He joined the short-board movement in 1967-68. His love of surfing as an activity was unmatched. Michael’s second sport love was baseball, played Little League, Pony League and tried to play in high school but was cut from the team because he couldn’t run fast. He never got over that. In the early 90s, he made friends with some people when he was coaching Little League in Arcata and joined their softball team. Some of the best fun he ever had, he said.

As to racquetball, he learned to play in 1976 and decided that he wanted to get good at the sport. He progressed and in 1977 wrote an article about strategies that players with some physical challenges could use. The article was published and the racquetball company Ektelon offered him a player contract. He ended up playing professional racquetball for Ektelon for about 5 years. A great bit of fun and it kept him in good shape. The other thing that Michael really loved to do was take his boat out on Big Lagoon fishing for trout and steelhead. He often said that being on the water was some kind of substitute for not being able to surf anymore.

Michael is survived by his beloved spouse, Hollie; their children Matthew (Catheline) Goodman, Anna Goodman, Jay (Lauren) Goodman, and Moira Pitlock; grandchildren Caleb Pitlock, Faith Pitlock, Grayson Pitlock, Cibella Goodman, Adlei Goodman and Jack Goodman; brothers John (Colleen) & Mark (Eileen) and their families; sister Mary Rojas and her husband Tony Rojas; and his brother-in-law Mark Shaffer. He is also survived by his dearest friends Don & Karen Bale of Vista, Calif., Steve Castaneda of San Juan Capistrano, Frank Caetano of Arcata, Ed Hirsch of Arcata, John McGuire of Eureka, Ben Marschke of McKinleyville, Stan Mortel of East Lansing, Michigan, and Jimmy Foot of McKinleyville.

Michael was a devoted parishioner of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Arcata. He was a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and he greatly valued the many friends he made in the church and in the Knights, and also the lawn crew.

Funeral information below:

St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Arcata, 11 o’clock on Tuesday the 7th, with a reception at his home following the service.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Michael Goodman’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.