For John and Anne Marie Goodman, the University of New Brunswick holds a special place in their hearts. The couple met at the Lady Beaverbrook Rink when Anne Marie (BPE ’65) was volunteering at an event that John (BSF ’64) was attending. They married shortly after graduation and have built a family and careers – John in the forestry sector and Anne Marie as a teacher and nurse.
John and Anne Marie, who now call Kanata, Ont. home, have decided to pay tribute to the place where it all began with a bequest to the University.
“It was natural for us to want to give back to the university that had such a great influence on our lives,” said John. “It made sense that we needed to contribute and give back.”
Anne Marie grew up in Fredericton, and fondly recalls the days when she would toboggan down the hills that make up today’s modern day campus.
“It was always my dream to go there as a student,” she said. After earning her nursing credentials following high school, she saved and worked her way through UNB’s physical education and health program.
John, raised in Ontario, was drawn to UNB’s forestry program and thrived in the close knit environment at UNB where professors worked closely with their students. After he graduated, he spent his career with the Ontario government, leaving as assistant deputy minister and later becoming a private international consultant in forestry and fire management.
Both John and Anne Marie were the first members of their generation to attend university and that experience fostered a deep appreciation for post-secondary learning that was passed to their children.
“It was a life-changing opportunity,” John said. “Attending UNB, graduating and practising our professions enabled us to develop a culture with our own children that values higher education.”
It’s easy to have an impact: A $25,000 bequest in your will can provide a $1,000 annual scholarship for UNB students forever. For more information or to help us ensure your wishes are fulfilled, email us at devdr@unb.ca.
