Obituary of William Goldman

William Harrison Goldman, 87, passed away in Oakhurst, New Jersey, on April 23, 2020, due to complications from COVID-19.

Born on March 27, 1933, in Burlington, Vermont, Bill lived most of his life in Rutland, Vermont. Bill spent the last few years of his life in Oakhurst with his wife Shirley along with their daughter Wendy and family. 

Bill attended Rutland High School, played basketball, and was a member of the track team. He attended the University of Vermont and served his country during the Korean War.  While serving in the military, Bill met his future wife Shirley at a party in North Carolina. For many summers, including the year they met, Bill served as a camp counselor at Camp Arrowhead on Lake St. Catherine in Vermont. That summer, due to a major coincidence, Shirley had plans to work as a camp counselor at Camp Birchwood at nearby Lake Hortonia in Hubborton, Vermont. They dated that summer, later married, and Shirley moved to Rutland.

After the war, Bill Joined his father, Nathan Goldman, to help run the family business. The Fashion Shop, which was a major Rutland institution for over 60 years. After he retired, Bill sold ski wear at the Basin Ski Shop at the Killington Ski Resort. Many out of town customers from New York would call Bill when they were on their way and ask him to set aside certain clothes for them. He became quite popular with his customers.

Bill was an avid gardener. He spent countless hours in the summer tending to his garden and his beautiful rose bushes that lined their driveway.

When his children Ron and Wendy were young, he loved to ski with them. In addition, Bill and his son Ron loved to fish. The family would camp on Burton Island on Northern Lake Champlain. Bill and Ron would set off in their John boat to fish in the morning and have a great fish fry in the evening.

Bill coached Ron’s little league team with his good friend Dick Cartier. At the end of each season Bill and Dick chartered a bus and took the team to Jarry Park in Montreal to watch the Expos. 

Bill loved sports, especially his New York Knicks, The New York Giants, and the Boston Red Sox. He also enjoyed watching college basketball.  His favorite Knicks player was Dave DeBusschere. For many years he would drive to Albany, New York, in the summer to watch the Giants training camp.  

Bill also loved horse racing and would join many of his friends every summer to watch the races in Saratoga, New York.

He was avid member of the Kiwanis Club including past president. Bill was also a member of the Elks Club and a long-time member of the Rutland Jewish Center

In the winter, Bill & Shirley’s house was a popular destination for Wendy’s Children and their college friends. Ron also enjoyed having his college friends spend time at his parent’s house for ski trips to Killington,   

Bill is predeceased by his parents Silvia and Nathan Goldman along with his wife of 62 years, Shirley Goldman.

Bill is survived by his brother, Peter Goldman of Voorhees, NJ along with his two children: Wendy and her husband, Isaac Zagha of Oakhurst, NJ, and Ron Goldman of Houston, TX; five grandchildren: Rosie and her husband Todd Rosembaum, Ralph Zagha, Billy Zagha,, Rebecca Zagha, and Nathan Goldman.

The family is extremely appreciative of Eva Marie Keller who was Shirley and Bills care giver after they moved to New Jersey

Bill was buried in a private service at Rutland Jewish Cemetery, Vermont, on Sunday April 26, 2020.

To share a favorite memory or send messages of condolences to William’s family, please visit his page of tributes at www.WoolleyBoglioli.com

Donations may be made to

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy

 CDP COVID-19 Response Fund

https://disasterphilanthropy.org/cdp-fund/cdp-covid-19-response-fund/