Donald Howard Goldman
September 13, 1935 - April 7, 2024
Donald Howard Goldman (Don) passed away with family by his side on April 7, 2024. He was the eldest son of Norman and Pearl Goldman, born and raised in Chicago, IL. Don was the loving father of three children with his former wife Shirley Goldman. He is survived by Shirley; his eldest Joseph Goldman and wife Jan; daughter Susan Goldman and husband David Kannikal; and youngest Andrew Goldman. Don is also survived by his brother Melvin Goldman, wife Kathy and their children Tim Goldman and Sarah Gupta. Additionally, Don was the incredibly loving and giving grandfather to his grandchildren Samantha Rosenberg, her husband Adam and their baby Owen; Zachary Goldman; Peter Kannikal; Heather Perreault and Matthew Recine.
Don grew up in Chicago, IL where he also began his career and family in the late 1950s. In the 1960s and 1970s, Don lived in a number of places, including Laurel MD, Dallas TX, Albuquerque NM, and New York City NY, but ultimately Don fell in love with the North Shore of Boston where he lived for over 40 years, settling into old town Marblehead first in the early 1980s and later in Salem where he shared a two-family home with his son Andrew.
A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Printing, Don led a storied career in the printing and graphic arts industry. Beginning with his own small lettershop in Chicago, he then worked for several large printing firms where he developed into a leader in print management and technologies. Don then started his own consulting firm and used his unique knowledge and expertise to help businesses throughout the printing industry. He also developed cutting edge computerized systems for estimating print jobs and became a highly sought after speaker and trainer for industry trade groups worldwide.
Besides his love of the graphic arts, Don also loved to travel, whether for work or pleasure he experienced places worldwide. He loved to cook, and was a voracious reader with at least one book always at hand. Don also found great joy in riding his bike and would explore the bike trails around Boston whenever he could.
Additionally, Don leaves behind a very large circle of friends and music lovers on the North Shore. When he retired from his professional career at age 70, he expressed interest in learning to play hand drums, so his son Andrew gifted him an African Djembe drum and some lessons with Senegalese musician Mamadou Diop, who also calls Salem home. Little did either know this would blossom into a great friendship and entirely new phase in Don’s life. For the next 20 years, Don’s passion for African drumming occupied him, playing several times a week with friends, attending concerts, and organizing drum circles at schools, community centers and events. He and his friends also assisted Mamadou with his charity organization, A3D, to produce an annual culture and music festival on Salem Common and to raise significant funds and supplies for schools and medical facilities in Senegal. In addition, Don helped organize many group trips to Senegal to deliver these gifts and to experience the culture of that region. He never slowed down sharing his joy of life and music with people of all ages.
There will be a gathering to celebrate Don’s life on April 21, 2024 from 12pm to 3pm at Berube & Sons Funeral Home, 191 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA 01970. There will be no formal service, but the family invites everyone to stop by and share some of their favorite memories of Don with each other.
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