Features

George Goth, 1943–2009

Thursday January 14, 2010 - 09:25:00 AM

A gathering in memory of George Goth, who recently died from complications of diabetes in his home on Kains Avenue, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, in the ballroom at the Berkeley City Club. 

A PhD in nuclear chemistry from UCB in 1973 and resident of Berkeley for over 40 years, Goth had recently retired from teaching physics and chemistry at Skyline College, where he was an active member and officer of AFT Local 1493. Never forgetting his working-class roots, he served eight years on the city of Berkeley Labor Commission. 

He was a board member of the Berkeley City Club, acting as secretary and editor of the Record, and contributed to club activities including the Book Club, the Play Readers, and Actors Reading Writers. 

As a member of the Friends of Berkeley Public Library, George worked at their bookstore on Channing Way on Friday afternoons and served on the Board of Directors. 

George loved the theater. He subscribed and donated to Aurora Theatre Company, Berkeley Rep, Impact Theatre, Shotgun Players and the San Francisco Playhouse and served on the Board of Directors of Central Works, whose original plays are staged at the City Club. He attended local theater appreciation classes and performing arts tours to Ashland, London, and New York. 

Berkeley City Councilmember Gordon Wozniak, a friend since graduate student days, will speak at the memorial as well as family, friends, colleagues, and associates from all circles of his civic involvement. Please attend to honor the memory of this exemplary citizen who will be sorely missed. 

 

—Compiled by Bonnie Stiles and Toni Mester