Obituary: Andrew Harry Goodman

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Reston attorney Andrew Harry Goodman died May 21. He was 76.

Born in Norfolk, Mr. Goodman earned his undergraduate degree in 1968 from Franklin & Marshall College before attending the University of Virginia School of Law, where he earned his law degree in 1971.

During his career as an attorney, Mr. Goodman was fiercely committed to both his practice and his clients. In 2022, he proudly completed 50 years as an active member of the Virginia State Bar.

At the time of his death, Mr. Goodman was partner at Pesner Altmiller Melnick Demers & Steele PLC. A member of the Collaborative Professionals of Northern Virginia, he had been trained in “collaborative law,” which allows properly trained attorneys to be retained as settlement counsel only.

Dedicated to community work, Mr. Goodman served in the Reston Lions Club beginning in 1975. He also enjoyed reading, geography, running errands and trivia – often outcompeting contestants on “Jeopardy!.” He was also a rabid fan of the Washington, D.C., area sports teams and the athletics programs of U.Va. and Franklin & Marshall College.

Mr. Goodman will be remembered for his kindness, quirkiness, reliability, intelligence and a quick and witty sense of humor that established instant rapport with all he encountered.

Mr. Goodman is survived by his longtime partner, Elizabeth; his children; Elizabeth “Betsy” G. Goodwin and Thomas “Tommy” R. Goodman; his granddaughters, Sarah and Hailey; his brother, Jerrold; and the mother of his children, Estelle.