Harriet Goodman

Harriet Goodman (Gelfand) // April 21, 1931 – June 9, 2026 Harriet Goodman, 95, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at NewAldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls. She was born to David and Pearl Gelfand (Tolmach) in Bronx, New York and later moved to Los Angeles, CA with her parents. Harriet graduated from high school at Hollywood High when she was 16. She then attended UCLA at just 17 years of age and graduated as an elementary school teacher. She later went on to pursue a graduate program from the University of Northern Iowa and graduated with a master’s degree in Child Psychology. Harriet married her sweetheart, Ralph Goodman, on January 30, 1955. She and her husband, Ralph, moved to Cedar Falls, IA, in 1964, where she taught first-grade at Lincoln Grade school and later taught Childhood development at the University of Northern Iowa as a “temporary” instructor for over 20 years. She was beloved by her students and would tell stories of having the same students in her college class that she also taught in first grade. Harriet loved music and wrote many nocturnal and rhapsodies for violin and piano. She began studying music at the age of 8. As a teenager, she studied with famous composer and pianist Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, a native of Florence, Italy, who also taught many famous composers. Harriet and her husband, Ralph, had a special group of friends that would gather each month. They called themselves the Chatter Platter Group. After retirement, Harriet and Ralph became massage therapists. They also loved to volunteer at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, in Cedar Falls IA. Harriet was preceded in death by her parents, David and Pearl Gelfand, and her husband, Ralph Goodman. Harriet is survived by her 3 children; Keith (Isabel) Goodman, Resshena (Steve) Pulley, and Roxie Anderson, 12 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and 3 great, great grandchildren. Special friends of over 60 years: Alice Jamosky of Cedar Falls IA & Alice and Carl Jenkins of Cedar Falls IA. Harriet was deeply loved and will be greatly missed!

Harriet Goodman

April 21, 1931 - June 9, 2026