Grant Goodman Obituary

Grant K. Goodman

Grant K. Goodman died peacefully in his sleep at Brandon Woods at Alvamar, on the evening of Sunday, April 6, after a year of many ups and downs in his brief battle against lung cancer.

Grant was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1924. His interest in Asia started in his childhood, when he became an avid stamp collector and thus learned to take Manchukuo seriously; and when he became a voracious reader and learned early on about the Marco Polo Bridge Incident and Japan's invasion of China. His parents nurtured these interests and, by age seven, Grant was on his way as a budding Asianist.

By the time he graduated from high school, Grant was eager to seriously pursue Asian Studies. By then, World War II had begun. In the fall of 1942, he commenced his freshman year at Princeton—where he subsequently applied for and was accepted by the U.S. Army Intensive Japanese Language School for Military Intelligence.

In May of 1944, Grant was a Technical Specialist 5, ready for another six months of advanced military Japanese language training. Commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Service in May of 1945, he arrived in the Philippines. Initially he interrogated Japanese prisoners and eventually assisted in the translation of the Japanese Order of Battle as well as the Japanese surrender terms delivered to General Douglas MacArthur's GHQ in Manila.

On October 1, 1945, Grant landed in Yokohama. He served in Tokyo in the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander Allied Powers until shortly before his discharge in October of 1946. He received his B.A. from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs in 1948, his M.A. in Far Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan in 1949, and his Ph.D. in Japanese History in 1955 from the University of Michigan.

Grant's arrival at the University of Kansas in 1962 was one of several key appointments that saw Asian Studies develop rapidly through the 1960s with considerable support from the Ford Foundation and later on, the Federal Government through its National Defense Education Act. These young KU Asianists managed to put KU's program on the map in a very short time through their own individual achievements and the University's support. Grant's contributions as eventual Co-Director of the East Asian Center with Prof. Felix Moos were immense. He traveled extensively and established many academic connections that proved indispensable to the Center. All the while, he continued to be a prolific writer and presenter of papers at a great many regional, national, and international meetings.

Grant has authored nine books (including two memoirs), edited or co-edited eight books, and published over 45 articles. In his long, highly productive career as a truly international scholar, he has been awarded many professional fellowships and grants by such organizations as the Netherlands Institute for Advance Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences, Mid American State Universities Association, Japan Foundation, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays, American Council of Learned Soeieties, and the Sumitomo Foundation. Besides English, he spoke Dutch, French, Spanish and Japanese fluently. His many travels took him as a visiting professor to the Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, England, Ireland, Poland, and Germany.

Grant K. Goodman retired from the University of Kansas in 1984. His collected papers and notes are in the Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan, but his personal papers are in the University Archive, Spencer Library, University of Kansas. After his retirement, he was active in Lawrence for many years with the Douglas County Senior Center; was a strong supporter of the KU School of Music and the KU Hall Center for the Humanities; and a fierce advocate for KU retirees through the Endacott Society at the KU Alumni Center. Finally, Grant was a tireless promoter of theatre and new plays by Kansas playwrights by single-handedly funding the award-winning English Alternative Theatre (EAT) for over 20 years through the work of KU English Prof. Paul Stephen Lim, his lifelong friend, until Lim's own retirement in 2010.

When his illness took a sudden turn for the worse three weeks ago, Grant was in the midst of planning a big celebration for what would have been his 90th birthday in October. It was then his final wish that this birthday party should be held as his memorial service in the event of his death. Grant K. Goodman is survived by a younger brother, David, and his wife Helen, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

Private inurnment services at KU's Pioneer Cemetery is being arranged by Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home for the immediate family and a small group of friends. Donations can be made directly to the KU Endowment Association (PO Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044) in honor of Grant K. Goodman, designated for either the Endacott Society, or for the Annual Grant K. Goodman Distinguished Lecture in Japanese Studies in the KU Center for East Asian Studies.

Please sign this guestbook at Obituaries.LJWorld.com.

Published by Lawrence Journal-World on Apr. 8, 2014.
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Memories and Condolences
for Grant Goodman

Not sure what to say?





Still replaying the sentences Grant addressed to me during the academic year 1976/77

wout ultee

April 4, 2021

A friend of nearly five decades, fellow panelist, and commentator. Philippine scholarship owes much to Grant Goodman. His gift to the Philippine Studies Group will be a lasting testament to his interests in the Philippines.

Michael Onorato

May 7, 2014

Ah, dear Grant. There will no other like you. Grant and I suffered through many AAUP and university governance issues from the 70's to the 80's. I attended one of his unforgettable "Remember Pearl Harbor" parties at Brandon Woods in the 90's. In later years we kept in touch through a mutual friend, Ev Swartz. He was a true gentleman and a true scholar. God go with you Grant.

Peter Johnsen

May 5, 2014

I mwet Grant Goodman when he and I were fellows at the Netherlands Institute of Advanced Studies in Wassenaar, the Netherlands in 1976/77. He was a senoir fellow from history and I was the bejamin from sociology there. We carried on togehter for that year, and kept in touch after that, visting Grant for the last time in Lawrence in 2011. He then paid for my stay, as it was silly of me to pay for a visit to a friend so far away from the Netherlands. He profoundy influenced the course of my life.

wout ultee

April 21, 2014

I knew Grant as a fellow Filipinist - and friend - for many years, running into him here and there around the world. He was always amiable, attentive, and generous; he will be missed.

Norman Owen

April 20, 2014

I probably first met Grant as Dr. Goodman during the 1980s and no doubt was interviewing him about a paper he was presenting or getting his perspective on a current event in Asia for the then University Relations office to publicize. I enjoyed our interview and looked forward to other opportunities to talk with him about his work. Over the years, he and Paul befriended me. When I think of Grant, two images come to mind. The first is of a man of great charm, a warm voice and rich sense of humor, often a twinkle in his eye. The second is of a young solider (Army) scholar somewhere in the Pacific during World War II climbing rope rigging to board a Navy ship. In addition to the standard issue items required in his backpack, Grant carried several thick English-Japanese dictionaries he needed as a translator. I heard him tell the story of climbing the rigging weighted down with dictionaries a couple of times and the image of that climb stays with me almost as vividly as hearing him say, "Hello."

Mary Jane Dunlap

April 18, 2014

Grant, my friend. I wiil miss the affable you and all our warm chats about the Philippines and Filipinistas.

Jack Larkin

April 15, 2014

Grant, my friend, I will miss your affable self and our chats about the Philippines and Filipinistas.

Jack LARKIN

April 15, 2014

Grant was a dear person and so much fun to talk to. I will miss seeing him when I visit Lawrence, Ellen

Ellen Piekalkiewicz

April 13, 2014

Elegance,
wit,
incisive critic.
Such is the nature
of Grant's leaving.

Ray Souza

April 11, 2014

A wonderful and interesting man. A patron saint to the theatre here in Lawrence. A man who liked his soup hot; and the dialogue loud! In the fifteen years I worked with EAT, Grant was a fixture at the box Office taking tickets, handing out programs-each one numbered and counted; I spent many preshow moments... especially on the shows I was directing, chatting with Grant, getting his feel of the audience, without fail- He would remark "I don't know Jeremy, (Paul) I don't think any people will come..." A concerned look on his face. A kind of ritual doubt. Of course we nearly always sold out-or very near. I imagine Grant is sitting in a sold out theatre now; as the movie-play of his life is shown. It moves, and inspires the audience. Every word rings clear with great pronunciation... And the soup is very hot! I will miss you my friend.

Jeremy Auman

April 11, 2014

Grant was a dear friend and an admired colleague. I will miss him a lot.

Anna Cienciala

April 10, 2014

I enjoyed Grant--while I was up at Brandon Woods. I was a hostess there and always looked forward to him being there at dinner time, usually with Paul. He will be greatly missed.
love in Christ, Rita Moses

April 10, 2014

Unforgettable Grant, thank you for sharing your interests, experiences, humor, and many friends with me.

Jerry Samuelson

April 10, 2014

I appreciated many opportunities in sharing pleasant and stimulative talks with Dr. Grant Goodman in Kyoto, Tokyo and Lawrence for the past fifty years. He extended valuable advises on my researches in the pre-war and post war Japan-Philippine diplomatic relations to me. He was our most distinguiished scholar and pioneer in the histrical studies of Philippine Japan relations.

Yoko Yoshikawa

April 10, 2014

Grant was a good friend and made Lawrence a more generous and sophisticated place

Mary Davidson

April 9, 2014

I was already in awe when I first met “the” Grant K. Goodman in person when I presented my paper at the conference in Manila way back in early 1980s. It was rather a stormy encounter because he disagreed with my presentation. However, since then we became good friends and he generously shared some pertinent materials with me.
I recall Grant's gentle smile and kind happy face when I last saw him at his 80th birthday party in Lawrence, Kansa. I will miss you, Grant.

Motoe Wada

April 9, 2014

Professor Goodman very generously endowed the Grant Goodman Prize in Historical Studies in 1990. Administered by the Philippine Studies Group (PSG) of the Association for Asian Studies, seven lifetime achievement awards have been given in his name, helping build an immeasurable legacy of excellence in scholarship on the Philippines and the recognition of interdisciplinary historical studies in Asia. He will be fondly remembered as a mentor, scholar and friend. http://blogs.shu.edu/philippinestudies/past-awardees/

Cherubim Quizon

April 9, 2014

I first met Professor Goodman during my Ph.D. studies at the University of Hawaii in the 1980s. From that time on he was a good friend and mentor. He was very supportive of my academic endeavors and I am greatly indebted to him. I remember fondly my last visit with him in Lawrence in 2010. May he rest in peace.

E. Bruce Reynolds

April 9, 2014

April 9, 2014

I was a student of Grant's at Fredonia State Univ. of NY from 1960-62. He gave me a great piece of advice which was to minor in English along with my history major. We were in touch in recent years by e-mail. He was thrilled that I had a daughter in theatre. He will be missed by all who knew him and loved him. May he rest in peace.

Faith White

April 9, 2014

Another passing of the generation who shaped Japanese Studies in the USA.....and one who wielded a wicked senshu fan--he had the wrist-flick down cold!

Laura Hein

April 9, 2014

I have met Prof. Grant Goodman on several occasions at meetings all over the world. He studied for some time in The Netherlands and was a friend of my teacher Professor Frits Vos, whom he met during the Korean War.
Grant Goodman had a profound knowledge of the Dutch in Japan which he laid down in some of his writings. He also took a great interest in the young students he met at meetings or lectures.
May he rest in peace.

Herman J. Moeshart
Nieuw-Dordrecht, The Netherlands

April 9, 2014

Breakfast will not be the same without Grant.
We will miss him. Paul Gay

April 8, 2014

I had the pleasure of knowing Grant as his housekeeper at Brandon Woods for several years. Grant, you will be missed.

Sherry Wealthall

April 8, 2014

I took Asian History from Prof Goodman in the 1960's. I remember him well. He was a great teacher and story teller. You could ask any of his students about the "Rice Bowl Theory" of Chinese politics. They would remember and Goodman's humor and wit as he was describing it.

Carl Fleming

April 8, 2014

I'm saddened to hear of the passing of Professor Goodman. His dedication to his craft and the development of Japanese studies at KU in undeniable. In the few times I met him, I found him to be a lover of conversation, a man of keen intellect, and in possession of a vibrant sense of humor. He will be missed.

John Schneiderwind

April 8, 2014

Grant was an important influence in my life. As a visiting student at KU in 1963-64 I took a course with him on Southeast Asia. It opened up a whole new world for me. His excitement about the study of things Asian remained with me during my academic career, which was with a focus on China. We remained friends for 50 years and we met, and dined, in many places over the years, latterly in Lawrence. We planned to meet in May. I will miss his warm presence greatly

Graham Johnson

April 8, 2014

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