Elizabeth Spencer Goldman

Elizabeth Spencer Goldman died at Franklin, Tennessee, on December 18, 2010, after a lengthy illness. She was a resident of Franklin, Tennessee. Elizabeth was born on January 11, 1943, at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans. She grew up in Waterproof, Louisiana, and graduated from Waterproof High School. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Sophie Newcomb College, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Society. She earned her masters degree and was awarded her Phd. in mathematics at Vanderbilt University in 1970. While pursuing her advanced degrees, she taught at Harpeth Hall and in 1968 joined the faculty at Peabody College. After Peabody College’s merger with Vanderbilt University in 1978, she was asked by Peabody’s first post-merger dean to serve as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Student Academic Affairs for the new Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. Elizabeth was awarded the Ellen Gregg Ingalls Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching in 1983, and honored by the Peabody Roundtable for outstanding teaching. She chaired both Peabody’s Faculty Council and Vanderbilt’s Faculty Senate. In 1988, she was awarded the Thomas Jefferson Award for distinguished service to Vanderbilt University through extraordinary contributions as a member of the faculty to the councils and government of the University. In 1995, she was named Vanderbilt University’s Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, Financial Aid, ROTC and NROTC, and served in this position for five years until she retired. Elizabeth was one of sixty civilians selected by the Pentagon to participate in the 1997 Joint Civilian Orientation Conference, a one-week tour of military bases, and to her great delight she flew on and off an aircraft carrier while on this mission. Upon her retirement from more than thirty years as a teacher, she became Professor Emerita of Vanderbilt. She volunteered her time for numerous community and charitable activities. Elizabeth was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, and did flowers for her church and served in various board positions for Trinity. She and Mrs. G. W. Moran adopted three rescue dogs and certified two as therapy dogs. Elizabeth and Martha visited Alzheimer’s units. She taught computer courses at College Grove Senior Citizens Center. She was a member of the Clovercroft Ladies Club. Her father George Carneal Goldman and her aunt and uncle Mabel Skinner Slay and D. W. Slay, predeceased her. She is survived by her mother Vera Skinner Goldman, her sister Katherine Goldman Vaughan and Earl Norman Vaughan, and her friends Pat Moran, Georgianne Moran and William Horn, and numerous cousins. There will be a graveside funeral service at Natchez Memorial Cemetery at 10:00 am on Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010, Reverend Robert Cooper officiating, and Young’s Funeral Home handling arrangements. There will be a memorial service for Elizabeth at Trinity United Methodist Church in Franklin, Tennessee, at a later date. The family wishes to express its deepest appreciation to her care givers Emily Cheng, Winn Walton, Vickie Parker, Jessica Wrenn, Wendy Garvon, Etsubdenk Fikremariam, Valencia Sharp, Donna Brinkman and Ginia Wood. We also wish to acknowledge the outstanding and compassionate care she received from Dr. Herman Kaplan, Dr. Andre Lagrange, and Dr. Hillary Kaplan, the doctors, nurses and staff at Williamson County Medical Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and its Neurology Department, and NHC Cool Springs. Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 2084 Wilson Pike, Franklin, Tennessee 37067, Vanderbilt University, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, 401 Kirkland Hall, Nashville, Tennessee 37240, or the charity of your choice.

Elizabeth Spencer Goldman

January 11, 1943 - December 18, 2010