The late S. Salt Lake councilwoman just learned of diagnosis
By Rosemary Winters
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 01/14/2009 08:26:39 PM MST
South Salt Lake City Councilwoman Rea Goddard died Tuesday, one day after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. She was 73.
"That was a sudden blow to us," Mayor Bob Gray said Wednesday. "I don't know of anybody that didn't think the world of her."
Goddard was elected to represent South Salt Lake's District 2 in 2005. In the past year, she struggled with losing her voice and her ability to walk.
A longtime resident who reared her family in the same home she lived in as a child, Goddard is survived by her husband, Norm, five children, 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Goddard, a beautician, ran Rea's Mop Shoppe salon inside her home for 30 years.
"She was kind of like a leaning post to the people who came in," Norm Goddard said. "They'd tell her their stories, and she'd help them with their decisions. She was a helping woman."
A friend, Connie Dickson, admired Goddard's love of learning. Even in her 70s, Goddard would take online courses. The councilwoman also found time to bake sugar cookies for her grandkids.
"There wasn't anything she couldn't do," recalled Dickson, who helped recruit Goddard into public office. "She had a lot of enthusiasm and was always busy."
The City Council will have to appoint a temporary replacement to fill Goddard's seat for the remainder of 2009. A new representative would be elected in November. Applications can be submitted at City Hall, 220 E. Morris Ave.
(2430 South).
"I would hope there would be people who would take an interest in their community like she did," said South Salt Lake City Councilman Shane Siwik. "Despite battling one of the most brutal diseases, she constantly tried to fulfill her obligation as a council member by attending her meetings as often as she could, finally, even in a wheelchair. Her quiet nature was a disguise to her hidden strength."
rwinters@sltrib.com
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11455075