Williamstown lost one of its own when last week’s terrorist attacks claimed the life of 33-year-old Peter Morgan Goodrich, a passenger aboard the hijacked United Airlines jetliner that crashed into the World Trade Center.
Peter Goodrich was remembered as a standout athlete with great intellectual curiosity across a wide range of interests, and for his kindness and respect for others, as a loving husband and chess-player who folded origami and lifted dragonflies out of harm’s way.
He grew up on White Oaks Road, with his parents, Donald and Sally Goodrich, his brother Foster and sister Kim.
Peter Goodrich was a six-time All-American in track and field at Bates College, where he graduated in 1989. He lived in Sudbury with his wife, Rachel.
He was educated in the Williamstown public school system and graduated in 1985 cum laude from Berkshire School in Sheffield.
Donald Goodrich is a local lawyer with offices in Adams and Bennington, Vt.; Sally Goodrich is Title I coordinator with the North Adams public schools.
They are longtime Williamstown residents who recently moved to Bennington, Vt.
Peter Goodrich graduated with high honors in mathematics from Bates College, in Lewiston, Maine. He worked for several years at Software Emancipation Technology, and at the time of his death was the director of production development for MKS, its successor company. He was on a business trip to the West Coast, headed from Boston’s Logan Airport to Los Angeles for a trade show aboard United Airlines Flight 175, the plane that was hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center’s south tower at 9:03 a.m. Tuesday.
A service to celebrate the life of Peter Goodrich will be held today, Wednesday, Sept. 19, at noon at Old First Congregational Church, Bennington, Vt., with the Rev. Scott Barton, and the Rev. Peter Elvin, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Williamstown, officiating.
Elvin called Peter Goodrich “one of the best and the brightest†when he told the congregation of his loss Sunday morning.
Peter Goodrich met his wife, the former Rachel Wallis Carr, while at Bates. She was the manager of the track team and supported him through his athletic and academic career. They were married in Guilford, Conn., Oct. 11, 1993.
He is remembered for his intellectual curiosity across a wide range of topics, including mathematics, religion and entomology; for his love of the Boston Red Sox, and most important, for his kindness to many people. He was also known for his sense of humor.
A story in The Boston Globe described him as “gentle and fair,†and listed his interests as ranging from kayaking and playing chess to folding origami and grinding his own telescope lens.
Speaking by telephone yesterday, his mother Sally Goodrich told of how he loved dragonflies, and insisted on removing them from the driveway before backing out his car rather than risk hurting them.
“He was a naturally inquisitive, warm, fun and very gentle person,†she said.
“He was so curious about so many things. He always had tons of questions.
“Rachel said if at the entry point into the everlasting you get the answers to unanswered questions, then Peter’s interview is still going on.â€
“He loved everything. He wanted to become proficient in everything,†she said. “He was a voracious reader, on philosophy, on religion. He was fun, silly, loud, and he gave the best hugs of anybody. They were just enveloping.â€
“He was a loving husband, and truly the most fair-minded person.
“For his thesis for high honors in math he created his own chess programs,†she said. On board the doomed flight, he carried “a tiny little chess piece Rachel had given him to remind him of her,†his mother said.
“He read the Koran, and he worked with people from many different countries. He played chess with Russian immigrants, Serbs, Indians. He never met a person he didn’t like.â€
In his obituary, the family specified that “he would wish that in this time of turmoil, that we should show respect for all, including those of Arab descent and those of Islamic beliefs.â€
“It is our intention to take a bit of Peter forward in a way that is in total contrast to the way he died,†Sally Goodrich said. The family is creating a memorial trust for charitable and educational issues that interested him.
There has been an outpouring of community support, she said. “We feel everybody’s love and concern.â€
And, she said, “the flags are a comfort to families.â€
At Bates, Peter Goodrich was six-time NCAA Division 3 All-American, specializing in the 35-pound weight, discus and hammer. He was elected team captain, and was described by his track coach as “a marvelous team leader and teacher,†nicknamed Bear by his teammates for his size and strength.
After coworkers observed a moment of silence in his memory, they held scooter races in his honor.
Besides his wife and parents, he leaves a brother, D. Foster Hetherington of Brandon, Vt.; a sister, Kimberly Trimarchi of Adams, and his maternal grandfather Peter F. Donovan.
Parking for today’s service will be available at the Bennington Center for the Arts on West Road; shuttle service will be provided to Old First Church, starting at 11 a.m.
A memorial service will be held in the Boston area at a time to be determined.
To offer condolences, please consult www.nsm.org/covey.
Memorials in his honor may be made to the Peter M. Goodrich Trust for charitable and educational issues of interest to Peter in care of Hanson-Walbridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 957, Bennington, VT 05201.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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