Cello Prodigy Who Founded Children's Psychiatric Unit In Bergen County Dies

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Jerome Goodman began his life as a young music prodigy, playing cello under Leonard Bernstein. He eventually became a child psychiatrist who founded the children's in-patient pediatric unit of one of the most well known hospitals in New Jersey.

Goodman, a Saddle River resident, passed away last month at 90. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dr. Gail Theis Goodman, son David Goodman, and three grandchildren. His was predeceased by son Douglas.

According to Goodman's obituary, he began working at Bergen Pines Hospital in Paramus in 1971 and became director of pediatric psychiatry. He developed "innovative" treatments for children with autism, the obituary says, then "treated thousands of adolescent and adult patients in private practice over 50 years."

Goodman had also been an assistant professor at Columbia University, and had served as a captain and medical director in the U.S. Army in the 1960s.

From 1976-2006, he returned to performing and composing music, the obit says, noting that "Some of his works were performed and recorded by the Seattle Symphony, as well as orchestras in Europe."

The full obituary can be found here.

You can find out more about the composition "Jerome Goodman: Double Concerto for Cello and Clarinet; Raymond Davis, cello; Richard Stozman, clarinet" here.