Mary Roberta Goodman

WEAVERVILLE – It is with deep love and sadness we share the passing of Mary Roberta Goodman, 79 of Weaverville, NC. Mary passed away peacefully May 18th, 2026 surrounded by her Husband and two sons following complications related to her Cancer, CNS Lymphoma. From the time of her diagnosis in January of 2025, Mary fought a courageous battle with strength, dignity and an unshakable spirit.

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1946. Mary loved the outdoors.  Growing up she spent summers with family and friends at Lake Waubeeka, in Danbury Connecticut.  She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Hunter College. Mary met her husband Michael on a blind date in 1964.  They were married in June of 1967 and she and Michael moved to Raleigh, North Carolina where Mary attended Graduate school at the University of North Carolina’s School of Library Science in Chapel Hill.  In 1968, Mary and friends organized an International Folk Dance Club, an activity Mary had been active in since she was 5.  The club still exists today.  Mary loved the ocean and quickly discovered Oak Island where she and her husband would eventually purchase a house on the beach.  The family would spend as much time as possible on the island through 11 hurricanes and tropical storms for the 27 years they owned a beach property.

While in Raleigh, she and her husband raised their two children David and Stephen.  Mary graduated with an MS in Special Libraries and was soon hired by the Raleigh Corning Glass Works factory to manage their technical library, a position she loved and held for several years until the factory closed.   Since it was difficult finding a local position at that time, she took a temporary position at the Fort Belvoir technical library in Virginia for a two-year appointment.  Mary and Michael would spend weekends together with the boys throughout that period in either in North Carolina or Virginia.  In 1978 Michael joined Mary permanently and they moved to Columbia, Maryland.  Mary was hired by the American Gas Association in Virginia to manage their technical library.  After two years, deciding that the commute was too long, Mary was hired by the Maryland National Parks and Planning Commission to assist in managing their technical library located in Rockville, MD.  She remained with the Commission until retirement in 2006.  She and her husband eagerly returned to North Carolina upon retirement, moving to Weaverville in 2006.

Mary was passionate about international folk dancing and participated in many clubs in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.  She often taught dances at the Asheville folk dance club.  Mary also volunteered at the Botanical Gardens, the Weaverville public library, the Highland Craft Guild, Diana Wortham Theater and the North Carolina Stage Company.  She also loved traveling and spent time in Russia, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania dancing, with other trips to China, Alaska and the Galapagos.  Her other passions were reading, Mahjong and she loved the game of Rummikub.  Mary was smart, fun to be with and was loved by everyone who spent time with her.

Mary is survived by her beloved husband Michael; their two sons, David and Stephen; their five grandchildren Bridget, Candace, Cecelia, Emma, and Natalie; her brother Jack Goldberg; and their two cats Shadow and Daisy.  She is preceded in death by her parents Nathan and Janet Goldberg, and her brother William Goldberg.

Mary will be buried on May 30th at the Carolina Memorial Sanctuary, in a private ceremony.  A memorial celebration of Mary’s life will be arranged in the near future. If desired, donations in Mary’s memory can be made to the Carolina Memorial Sanctuary in Mills River or the American Cancer Association.  And, most importantly, we encourage folks to dance in celebration of her life.

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