MIDDLEBURY – Tammi Goddard – Anne Ruth Thompson was born on May, 5, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan and raised by her parents, Rev. and Mrs. Ruth (Figge) and Thomas E. Thompson. She graduated from Detroit Central High School during the height of the Civil Rights Movement and was proud to be the only white girl in the June, 1964 class of 400. Many deep, enduring friendships were formed there.
From there she attended Wheaton College and went on to teach Special Ed grades 7-12 at Quabbin Regional High School. During this time she lived in the small town of Hardwick, MA, a town cut off from western Massachusetts by the Quabbin Reservoir – supplier of Boston’s water. Because of this isolation the town was slow to change and can resemble a living, breathing Sturbridge Village where all the buildings continue to be used for their original purpose. Tammi, as she was known, loved this town and over the years individuals with specialized personal interests found a welcome home there among the native dairy farmers.
In 1982 Tammi married a Hardwick native, Craig Goddard, and moved to Middlebury, VT where he was employed. Together they spent their honeymoon summer building their home in Middlebury. Over the years they discovered the fun of traveling – first by truck camper in 1988, when they took three months crossing the U.S. to the Pacific and back again. And later by water when they acquired their beloved lobster-hulled boat, ‘Cloud Nine’, and began a decade long series of summer cruises to places as far flung as the Erie Canal, The Thousand Islands, Mackinac Island, the Rideau and Trent Severn Canals and the North Channel of Georgian Bay of Ontario and the Saguenay Fjord in Quebec. From there, south to Boston Harbor, Cutty Hunk, Martha’s Vineyard, the north forks of Long Island, Manhattan, the Connecticut River, the Chesapeake, Baltimore, Washington DC, the Potomac, Tangier Island, and the DelMar Peninsula. And among the lessons learned: travel while you are young. Don’t wait for retirement – that’s often too late.
Just a few months after returning from their most ambitious trip to the North Channel of Georgian Bay and Sault St. Marie in 2011, Tammi was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. This came as a complete surprise but with the encouragement and enthusiasm of her Oncologist, Dr. Paul Unger, and the loyal support of Craig, Tammi pulled through the seven months of chemo and surgery and entered remission. With her doctor’s encouragement, the boat and trailer were hooked up to the plow truck and an incredible 70 day trip west – across Canada to Banff, then down to a family wedding at Glacier Natl. Park in Montana, followed by weeks of winding their way SE with visits to various attractions and to friends and family – with the 50′ rig parked out front. Tammi wrote: “We had anticipated launching the boat frequently during this trip but discovered that it made such a convenient RV that most of the time we spent ‘on the hard’ – along the banks of the shrunken Mississippi, parked in a glam marina on the Chesapeake and overlooking Table Road lake in Branson, MO. It was a great trip!
“Cancer is a hard word to find applied to yourself, but the experience is not all bad. The visits from far flung family and friends came as pure joy. It can be the first really long-time off you’ve had since school days. 2012 and 2013 passed with good days/weeks and not so good days/weeks. Loss of energy was the biggest problem.
“2014 has dawned and the situation looks like it could get more serious. However it turns out, I want to thank my wonderful husband, Craig, for his unfailing support and help. Our friends, family & nieces and nephews have supported the two of us with great patience. Even our dog, Ballew, who has turned into a great nurse. I have great faith in God and believe his words, ‘Trust in The Lord with all thine heart and heed not unto thine own understanding.’
“I also must mention the 27 wonderful years during while I was employed at Coldwell Banker Bill Beck Real Estate – first by Bill Beck and then by Tom Walsh. It was a dream job with continuous learning possibilities.”
Tammi died peacefully February 8, 2014, surrounded by people who loved her. Donations can be made to Addison County Home Health and Hospice. P.O. Box 754, (802)388-7259. How lucky we were to have them!
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 11th (11am) at the Kirk Alumni Center, 217 Golf Course Rd., Middlebury, VT.
(If you need any other information, please contact niece Beth.)
