DEE-DEE GOIDEL:
Advocate
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
I was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey at
the height of the 1930s Depression. My formal
name is Dolores but my father called me Dee-
Dee and that name stuck. My grandfather was
a rabbi and came to the United States with
members of his small Polish town to escape
the pogroms. Both my parents were born here
but were quite young when they married and
accepted my grandparents’ invitation to live
with them during the Depression. This made it
possible for me to learn Yiddish, the preferred
language of the older couple. My grandmother
and mother also taught me, by example, the
need to help less fortunate neighbors and stand
up for them.
WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL?
My father worked as a trader on the floor
of the New York Stock Exchange. We moved
to Jersey City so that he would have an easier
commute from the Journal Square station. I
attended the Jersey City schools and graduated
from Snyder H.S. I was an editor of the school
newspaper and became captain of the girls'
fencing team. In the 1940's girls could not
get a school letter. I thought this was unfair
and organized a group of like-minded girls.
We appealed to the boys' fencing coach and
got this reversed. To compete, we helped to
organize girls’ teams in two other Jersey City
high schools. To this day my letter is in my
closet to help me remember my early advocacy
for a cause that I thought was just. I
then adopted the motto, “Nothing ventured,
nothing gained.”
I received a B.S. Degree from Ithaca College
in 1952 and an M.S. in Education from Boston
University. In 1953, I began in Speech and
Hearing Therapy in the clinical non-profit
sectors. In 1971, I was recruited by the NYC
school system to develop and oversee the
evaluation and placement of children with special
needs in Queens. After retiring in 1996, I
became an adjunct professor at Hunter College
and Kingsborough Community College as well
as an educational consultant.
DO YOU HAVE A FAMILY?
I was married to Warren Goidel in 1954 after
he finished Basic Training (Korean Conflict).
We met in 1951 when we were camp counselors.
He was a second year law student at
Harvard Law School. That summer I decided
not to take a camp job but to take a literature
course at NYU. After two days of long lectures
and two hours of homework I decided to drop
the course and go back to summer camp. The
owner said he would take me back if I was
willing to have a bunk plus teach fencing and
edit the camp newspaper. I agreed. That's when
I met Warren. If I had continued with summer
school I would never have met my husband.
In the 1970s Warren took a leave from his
own law firm to become an Assistant Attorney
General for New York State as Bureau Chief for
Charities and Foundations. At that time their
office was in the World Trade Center.
My family consists of my son Eric, who is a
partner in his law firm. His wife Wendy is an
elder estate lawyer in her own firm. My son
Scott is in international business and lives on
the west coast with his wife, Eun-Sook. Her
field is ecology/sustainability. Each of my sons
have two children.
WHAT DO YOU ESPECIALLY LIKE ABOUT
LIVING AT NST?
Seeing the seasonal changing views of NYC
and Lake Success from the terrace and windows
of my apartment. The convenience of shopping
at the arcade vendors.
Membership in the Hadassah Migdal Chapter
involves me in a cause greater than myself
and writing articles for the NST Courier. I feel
strongly that what keeps me strong and young
in spirit is that I have remained proactive in
causes and community, not just in personal
pursuits. The Hadassah motto “Women Who
Do” says it all.
I enjoy the company of my former CSA colleagues
who have moved to NST over my 27
years here--we have become a family.
WHAT IS THE CSA?
CSA stands for the Council of School
Supervisors & Administrators. It is a union
for NYC school supervisors and administrators.
I believe it's most important to remain vitally
active in an organization that supports you as
a “way of giving back.” After my retirement I
was fortunate to be asked to reinvent myself
as a member who will lobby in Albany and
City Hall. I organized groups of retirees and
wrote position papers to foster legislation for
school funding, etc., as well as retiree issues. I
enjoyed that role. Also, in 2004, CSA decided
to establish a separate Retiree Chapter and I
was elected 1st vice president.
I joined Irwin Shanes (Mr. NST Bingo), who
had been elected president in organizing and
planning for the retiree membership. In that
role I created many satellite regional units in
each borough, neighboring counties, and many
states where CSA members now live.
These stimulating and gratifying activities
were recognized when I was named Trailblazer
for Educational Innovation, Woman of
Distinction in Queens, and Advocate for
Children by the New York State Senate.
In 2013, upon my second retirement, Gov.
Cuomo flew the American and New York
State flags over the state capital in my honor
for my advocacy and volunteer pioneer efforts
in the field of children and adults with special
needs.
Dee-Dee Goidel started out as a Speech
Therapist at Queens United Cerebral Palsy.
Later, the New York City schools recruited
her for supervisory positions. Over the years
as an advocate/leader in the Council of School
Supervisors and Administrators, she fostered
programs and legislation. Dee-Dee’s positive
view of living at North Shore Towers was
conveyed to her retired colleagues as dozens
followed her here as the Pied Piper.
4 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ September 2021