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Thomas Goodman

Profile Updated: February 3, 2022
Residing In
Oak Creek, WI USA
Spouse/Partner
Marilyn Goodman
Occupation
Retired
Children
Joseph 10/24/1974
Jennifer 4/27/1977
Comments

I was always good with cars and motors. Skipped college due to poor parents. Became head mechanic at 7 mile Standard. Darwin Neinzcyk (class of 69) told me about the new Schlitz can plant in Oak Creek in 1972. I applied and worked there until the plant was shut down in 1989. Went to Aviation school at MATC Oak Creek graduating in 1991. Was not able to land a job (too many young people competing and I was 38). A friend from the Schlitz plant transferred to New Brunswick New Jersey. He let me know there was a job there. So we packed up our stuff and moved to Yardley PA (right on the Delaware river). Worked at that can plant until operations were curtailed and I was laid off in 1997. During my layoff our house caught fire! I became my own contractor and rebuilt the whole house. In 1999 I sold it for enough money to move back to Wisconsin and buy a property in Crestview where I built a very nice home. I went to work for Frontier Sales, a used car dealer on 27th Street in Milwaukee for two years while building the house. Another friend from the Oak Creek can plant helped me get into the former Miller brewing can plant(now owned by Ball Corp.) I worked another twelve years there. In 1996 I was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney disease. My kidneys finally gave out on 2008 when my sister Laura gave me a kidney. From December 3, 2008 I have been given another lease on life and now I have 12 years under the bridge since the transplant!. After two years from the surgery I retired at 60. Since then I ran my own contracting company, partnering with my son. I grew weak so I quit the contracting business. Now I work on cars in my garage.My wife Marilyn took over contracting with my son and she works almost every day.

My other projects were learning how to play Bass guitar and playing in 4 bands over about twenty years. I recently took it back up and played Wisconsin State Fair in 2016. Then I quit again but still jam with old band members. Best thing I ever did. I also learned auto bodywork, painted over two hundred vehicles. I acquired a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 and completely restored it as a tribute car to the one in the movie Vanishing Point. It was SWEEET! Wish I never sold that one.

School Story

Graduated MATC Aviation with an A&P license.

In high school I majored in Math, science and took all the trade classes. Since I lived in Caddy Vista we had a gang of friends, almost all of them were from Caddy Vista amd the the class of 1969. This was because my birthday was December 30th so I was held back at Kindergarten. So when they graduated I made friends with Mike Blazey for our senior year.
I remember cruising main street in Racine on Friday nights and hitting "the Ave" on Saturday nights in downtown Milwaukee. Breaking parts in my hot rod '63 Chevy II every month and working like a pit crew to make the weekend. Yes I was a real car guy.

Thomas' Latest Interactions

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Thomas Goodman has a birthday today.
Dec
30
Dec 30, 2023 at 4:33 AM
Thomas Goodman posted a message. New comment added.
Feb 05, 2023 at 7:11 PM

Posted on: Feb 04, 2023 at 11:24 PM

Welcome to the group Jane!

Thomas Goodman has a birthday today. New comment added.
Jan 10, 2023 at 5:31 PM

Posted on: Dec 30, 2022 at 4:33 AM

Thomas Goodman posted a message. New comment added.
Feb 03, 2022 at 11:51 PM

Posted on: Feb 03, 2022 at 6:12 PM

I got 15 of 16. News reels were gone by the time I started going to the theater.
But yep, older than dirt!

Thomas Goodman has a birthday today. New comment added.
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:50 PM

Posted on: Dec 30, 2021 at 4:33 AM

Thomas Goodman added a comment on his Profile.
Oct 18, 2021 at 2:53 PM
Thomas Goodman added a comment on his Profile.
Aug 02, 2021 at 4:21 PM
Thomas Goodman added a comment on his Profile.
Jul 28, 2021 at 5:57 PM
Thomas Goodman has left an In Memory comment for his Profile.
May 26, 2021 at 10:40 PM

Sorry to hear another classmate is gone.  I feel especially lucky as a kidney transplant patient of over 12 years but know my luck could change at any moment.

My condolences to her family and friends.

Thomas Goodman posted a message.
Jan 20, 2021 at 2:00 AM

Hi Phil. Glad to here you're alive and well.

Thomas Goodman posted a message.
Jan 20, 2021 at 1:58 AM

Hi Glenn. We were schoolmate friends at Caddy Vista School with Tom Hunt and Gary Giese. I remember that your parents house burned down and they built a brand new one on the lot. The only house that's not a pre-built National Homes home. Glad you're still well and enjoying life.

Thomas Goodman posted a message.
Jan 20, 2021 at 1:46 AM

Hi David. I remember you from the Vista days. If I remember right your parents li lived in the fist house on Caddy Lane north side next to hwy 38. Nice to hear about your life. There is a Caddy Vista kids group Facebook page you might enjoy checking out Also there is a memorial FB page.

Thomas Goodman has a birthday today. New comment added.
Dec 30, 2020 at 9:30 PM

Posted on: Dec 30, 2020 at 4:33 AM

Thomas Goodman added a comment on his Profile.
Jul 10, 2020 at 9:20 PM