Goldfoot Genealogy: Remembering Nathan Bernard Goldfoot

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Remembering Nathan Bernard Goldfoot

Nadene Goldfoot

2017 at Don's 80th Birthday
1st cousins Nate Goldfoot and Don Eichman

born: February 25, 1934 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon died April 26, 2020 in Gresham, Multnomah, Oregon
Nate lived for 86 years, 2 months and 1 day.

Condolences to Nathan Bernard Goldfoot's family, as he passed away at 6:15 am Monday morning, April 26, 2020, coughed, and died in his wife, Lorraine's arms. Nate had been on dialysis for many years and decided that enough was enough. He had had diabetes, type 2. He could take dialysis no more. My cousin had been off of it for 2 weeks, after enduring the 3 times a week episodes for 7 years. Those 2 weeks were very special, painless and meant not being as tired as he had been after these treatments. He was able to speak with all his relatives at least over the phone, as these are coronavirus stay-home days, when visiting is not something any of us must forget about for the time being.

1934 and Charlie (Haskel) is carrying Nate outside in Portland

Nate's parents were Charles "Haskel" Goldfoot, son of Nathan Abraham Goldfoot and Helen Hochfeld, daughter of William Hochfeld and Francis Cushner. William had a department store in Grand Coulee so the couple moved there and remained. They were the only Jewish family in the town, so went to Spokane, Washington for the holidays.

I remember that Nate and family would come visit us while I was a little girl, and Nate was the biggest tease! I had an electric toy stove, and Nate loved to tease me with it. I was always afraid he'd break it. Then he wound up being the only guy in the family that knew how such things worked and became a Mr fixer, mostly with our cars. Nate got that teasing personality from his dad Charlie, who was also very outgoing and loved to tease.

Nate, relaxing at home

Nate's father passed away at age 43 in the middle of December 1949. and my dad Morrie, Charles's brother, drove up there for the funeral and brought back Nate to live with us. Nate and I were 6 months apart, Nate being the oldest. Most all men of that era smoked, and he probably smoked Camels. He had a terrible smoker's cough. Charlie's baby sister, Anne, also had the same problem. Everyone of that era smoked!

We were both named for our grandfather, Nathan Abraham, though at that time no one knew of his middle name. Our clue was that our Bubbie 's 3rd child who had died in infancy was named, "Abraham."

Nate attended Benson High and was a student at Washington High. Nate drove our 40 Plymouth, dropped me off first and went onto Benson.

He went back to Grand Coulee to graduate from his old high school, though.

Cousin Nathan served in the army, enlisting December 5, 1958. He was stationed in Boussac, France.

Nate married Lorraine Slifman on May 28, 1967 in Portland, Oregon. He must have returned some time around then. They were almost able to celebrate their 53rd wedding anniversary. They met through relatives.

Nate and Lorraine wound up with 3 children; two girls and boy. They have all been most helpful to Nate and Lorraine during this time.

Benson High taught Nate automobile mechanics, and he became an A one auto mechanic and worked on Lincolns and Fords. He liked Fords, but liked for himself even better were convertibles. He and Lorraine were in several parades with their convertibles.

Wife Lorraine, cousin Anthony Levy and Nate .
Looks like we were at the MJCC for an event

Cousins; Me, Don and Nate

Something that came naturally to Nate was keeping things in good order, and that was an important skill in an auto mechanic's world. I remember how he kept all his tools in good order and in such neat ways.

Our family always checked with Nate when we needed to buy a new car. He would usually look it over for us and tell us what he thought, and we valued his opinion. It was sad for all of us when he had a major stroke which hit his left side, and being left handed, could not work anymore.

At Cousin Don's 80th in 2017

That's one interesting family gene several of us carry. Nate and my brother and I are all left-handed. The male line or Y haplogroup has been tested by my brother, so Nate is included in knowing that they are of QBZ67 after testing. It's like knowing what branch of the tree of life they are from; the Q branch. Being Jewish then puts them on a special twig on that branch. Both sides of Nate's parents were from Germany. His Hochfeld side of men were Cohens from Hochfeld, Germany. Goldfoot was originally spelled " Goldfus."

We'll all miss you, Nate, and thank you for giving us the chance to say how much we love you and what you mean to to us. You won't be forgotten.
During this coronavirus period, the funeral is to be of 5 cars with the family staying in the cars; doors closed. There will be a celebration of life later when we can all come together.

Labels: Lorraine Goldfoot, Nathan Goldfoot