Memorials

from 2020 Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce City Guide & Membership Directory

2020 Membership Directory

Nancy Goedert R�� I� P��

NANCY GOEDERT PASSED AWAY THIS PAST JANUARY AT THE AGE OF 86. Most well-known in the community for her decades of activism, she was also a loving mother of six and wonderful grandmother to 11. She recently welcomed her first great-grandchild, named for her husband, Charles, who preceded her in death in 2007. By Nancy’s beloved granddaughter, Kyle Goedert

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Nancy met Charley in the early 1950s when he was a classmate of her sister Sally, at DePaul University. They married in 1956. They soon welcomed Marianne (Talon), John, Joe, Chuck, Rob, and Pete, and the family moved to Ferndale in 1967.

Nancy’s first foray into politics came in the early 1970s when an issue hit close to home. Ferndale School District was at risk of losing federal funding for a reading program that was helping her son Rob, unless they desegregated Grant Elementary School. Nancy attended a school board meeting and urged them to desegregate, but they voted to maintain the status quo. She attended another meeting with a group of people who wanted to replace the school board and change these policies. She became involved and, through years of campaigns, they eventually won all seven seats on the board.

ONCE THE FLAME HAD BEEN IGNITED, NANCY

TOOK UP OTHER IMPORTANT CAUSES. She marched for the Equal Rights Amendment and advocated on behalf of the National Committee for Sane Nuclear Policy. She was most recognizable to Ferndale residents for her anti-war protests at the corner of 9 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, where she could be found every Monday urging motorists to honk. She was ticketed in June 2006 for disturbing the peace and, along with four fellow protestors and the ACLU, successfully sued the City under the First Amendment. As the oldest of Nancy’s grandchildren, I was lucky enough to have 30 years with her. As we have all grown up, our relationships with her evolved. When we were kids, her house was board games and ice cream and staying up late to watch TV Land. It was donuts for breakfast and trips to the zoo. I don't remember ever being sad in that house on Woodland. As we got older, she stopped treating us like children and recognized us as adults. Some of my favorite memories with her were made during the last few years, talking as women over a box of cheap, pink wine, a Nancy Goedert staple.

Though her activism is inspirational, it is her spirit that we will remember. Nancy Goedert was a strong woman. She found joy in every part of life. Most importantly, she knew both of those things are found in family, and that is what she taught to us. ■

Nancy Goedert and family, 2001.

1951

McGuire family circa 1946": Noreen, Nancy (Goedert), Sally (Beene), Joe, Dennis, Marty

Nancy, Charley and grandchildren circa 1996: Sara Talon (left) and Lyndsey Talon (now Steinbock), Kyle Goedert (redhead)

Nancy and Charley, Chicago IL Feb. 11, 1956

Robert Porter R�� I� P��

By Bob’s treasured friend and former Ferndale mayor, Craig Covey

FERNDALE LOST ONE OF ITS LEADERS IN EARLY FEBRUARY, leaving behind wife Ruth and son Brad and a host of friends and admirers. Destined to become one of our city's historical figures, Bob was beloved by thousands of people in southeast Michigan. He was 71.

Born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, Bob settled in Ferndale in 1982 to be near Hagopian, where he worked for many years. He quickly became a contributing member of the neighborhood in southwest Ferndale and the greater community.

Best known for his outgoing personality and engaging manner, Bob loved people and his communication skills were legendary. In spite of some challenges, folks remember Bob as a cheerful, smiling guy always willing to roll up his sleeves for the task at hand. F ERNDALE HIT ITS NADIR IN THE 1980s and was a bit rough around the edges. The downtown was mostly empty, and property values were low. Woodward Avenue in the city featured an adult theater and a massage parlor. But, like others, Bob saw a diamond in the rough.

Bob’s proudest accomplishment was leading a citizens committee to pass a major bond issue to repair and rehabilitate the city’s infrastructure, which had previously failed. By bringing together residents, businesses, the schools, and community groups, the effort succeeded and allowed the City to fix its aging roads, water mains, and sewers. It was that unglamorous-but-necessary work that halted the city’s decline and laid the foundation for the rejuvenation of Ferndale that took place in the 1990s and 2000s.

Bob was a bridge in the city, linking older residents, businesses, police and fire with the new younger people that began making Ferndale home. He was comfortable talking with seniors, students, religious leaders, minorities, and the LBGT community and was respected by all of the disparate groups in Ferndale as it became more diverse. H E WAS ONE OF THE SMARTEST PEOPLE I

HAVE EVER KNOWN and understood the workings of municipal government and especially its budget and financing. Always willing to invest in the city, he also fiercely guarded the taxpayers’ money.

I once took Bob a small baggie of little hot peppers that I had proudly grown in my garden. The next day, he brought me a grocery sack full of the largest, most flavorful peppers I had ever tasted that he had grown. He was a giving, caring, and generous human being.

In these current times of anger, division, and fear, we are going to greatly miss the warmth, understanding, acceptance, and cheerfulness that was Robert Porter. ■

From Mayor Melanie Piana A GOOD

MAYOR EMPOWERS ANOTHER EMERGING LEADER. Former MayorBob Porter influenced my career path by helping start the Michigan Suburbs Alliance where I worked for nine years. And he appointed me to the Zoning Board of Appeals when I was in grad school. Bob has a special place in my heart for empowering me. Rest in peace, my friend. Your impact on Ferndale continues on.

From Dean Michael Bach, owner of Dino’s and M-Brew A LMOST EXACTLY 20 YEARS AGO, then

City Council memberBob Porter took the time to seek me out and welcome me to Ferndale as the new owner of the Rialto Cafe. We chatted often and he would introduce me to many business owners, neighbors, police, fire and friends in the neighborhood. He also put me in touch with many people at City Hall able to help a young and ambitious punk from Detroit realize a dream of owning a restaurant. He told me to get involved and to simply “do the right thing” in Ferndale, and the community would appreciate and support my efforts.

As time went on, and Dino’s was able to establish itself as a local watering hole, MAYOR Porter would pop his head in the lounge for a cold beverage and shoot the breeze about city stuff. I would eventually be appointed to the DDA Board of Directors by Mayor Covey, and our breeze-shooting would turn into advisory sessions. He would never just give advice, but would kinda’ tell a story about a situation he experienced and how he or others would handle it. The conversations were always light and full of wisdom.

We would stay in touch with an occasional call, with our last chat being during this past holiday season. He sounded good although he did tell me he didn’t feel “all that great.” He would never let a conversation lead to a negative lane. He was always flattering and never had anything but nice things to say to and about everybody. His life touched a lot of people with his charm and uplifting approach.

So...on this the day of his passing on to eternal rest, I want to take a moment to raise a toast to Mayor Bob Porter. The uplifting of others in your community will forever remain a life lesson learned from the heartfelt and genuine ways in which Mayor Bob would lead, live and love the City of Ferndale.

Salute and Cheers to you, Sir.