Obituary - Pioneer Merchant Sam Goodman Dies

Sam Goodman came to this country alone at the age of 14 from his native Poland. During his early years he resided in several small communities and worked at various odd jobs.

In 1919 he settled in Lorain and founded Goodman Beverage Company, today one of the largest beverage distributing firms in Lorain County.

He died yesterday at the age of 80 in his winter home in Bal Harbour, Fla.

Goodman was always concerned about the planning and development of Lorain.

When many business merchants lost faith in Lorain’s downtown and moved out, Goodman decided it was time for Broadway to have a face lifting.

It was his building at 707 Broadway that was torn down two years ago to make room for the new Ohio State Employment Service. This spurred other merchants in the 700 block to remodel their store fronts in stylish red brick. He saw hope for Lorain’s downtown.

Goodman started his business as a small soft drink distributor. He developed it into one of the largest beverage distributing companies in Lorain County, serving four other counties.

In 1966 he suffered a heart attack, but still managed to be semi-active in the business. Two of his sons, Jerome and Kenneth, have been long associated with their father in the business.

Other survivors are his wife, Bertha; another son, Louis Goodman of Memphis, Tenn; two daughters, Mrs. Sarah Kapelow of Memphis, Tenn and Mrs. Loretta Bornstein of Shaker Heights; nine grandchildren.

Services will be tomorrow at 1pm at Walter A Frey Funeral Home, with Rabbi Samuel Meyer of Agudath B’nai Israel Temple officiating. Burial will be in Salem Cemetery.

Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

The week of mourning will be at the family residence, 223 Mississippi Ave.

The family suggest memorial contributions be made to the Agudath B’nai Israel Temple building fund.