PHOENIX — Former Phoenix City Councilman and Vice Mayor Calvin C. Goode has passed away at the age of 93.
Goode first worked in the local education industry before serving more than two decades on the Phoenix City Council including time as Vice Mayor.
While on the city council, Goode was an advocate for minorities, women’s rights and the rights of the LGBTQ community. He also played a major role in getting the city to officially observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday.
In honor of his years of service to the city, a city building at 251 W Washington Street was named in Goode’s honor. The building is inscribed with the following message:
“Guided by a deeply held belief in God and in the equality of all people, his lifetime exemplified a powerful commitment to improving the quality of life in Phoenix, especially for young people."
Mayor Kate Gallego released the following statement on Goode's passing:
“Former Phoenix District 8 Councilmember and Vice Mayor Calvin Goode was an extraordinary man and someone I feel quite privileged to have known. His kindness and generosity were legendary, as was his commitment to Phoenix, to his brothers and sisters in the African American community, and to education. The city’s highest recognition for civil rights work is named in his honor, as is one of our buildings in the downtown city core. Yet, these few items only begin to represent the depth and breadth of the impact Mr. Goode had on Phoenix during the 22-years of service he willingly gave us.
On behalf of the City of Phoenix, I share our deepest condolences with his family. I know he looked forward to the day he would be reunited with his beloved wife Georgie. Vice Mayor, your good works will live in our hearts for generations.”
House Democratic Leader Reginald Bolding also released the following statement regarding the death of former Phoenix City Councilman Calvin C. Goode:
"We are all deeply saddened to hear that our community and our state has lost an icon in Calvin Goode. Mr. Goode was a soft-spoken man, but lion-hearted -- an unshakeable force for progress, equality and civil rights. Over the span of six decades, he changed his city and our community for the better in countless, immeasurable ways.
Along with his beloved wife Georgie, who proceeded him to glory in 2015, the Goodes epitomized a life of selflessness and service to others. Nearly every day I drive past their home of more than 65 years across from Eastlake Park on my way to my office. It is as modest as he was, but we must remember that it is the site of so much important Arizona history. So many civil rights campaigns and political efforts that have advanced the lives of all Arizonans were launched right there by Calvin Goode and the people he inspired.
Mr. Goode remained a leader in our community all his life, long after his service on the City Council ended. I'm just one of many who sought his advice and support over the years. His question when presented with an issue or problem was always the same, "what are you going to do about it, and how can I help?" In that way he built up and inspired a legion of other leaders to carry on his work and legacy.
It is up to all of us who knew him, who loved him, or who are just learning about him, to keep that fire burning. Our caucus extends all its love and boundless respect to his extraordinary family during this difficult time."
Memorial services for Goode have been scheduled for January 9. A public viewing will take place outside the Calvin C. Goode Building in downtown Phoenix from 12 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Free parking will be available at the City of Phoenix parking garage on the southwest corner of 3rd Avenue and Washington Street. Social distancing and mask wearing will be enforced.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the following organizations:
George Washington Carver Museum
www.azfoundation.org/CalvinGoode
Booker T. Washington Child Development Center
https://www.btwchild.org/
National Forum for Black Public Administrators-Central Arizona Chapter (NFBPA-CAC) custodians for the ACT Goode Scholarship
https://www.paypal.com/donate
South Mountain Community College's Scholarship Program
Students Transformed to Achieving Radiant Success (STARS)
