On Sunday, Sept. 3, Syracuse University faculty member and devoted community activist Ann Goodgion, 60, lost her eight-month battle with ovarian cancer.

In addition to teaching courses in both sociology and social work, Goodgion was also a field instructor and doctoral candidate for social work at SU.

When she was diagnosed with cancer in February 2006, Goodgion was nearing the completion of her doctoral degree. Her final dissertation was about the experience of having cervical cancer, and the stigma and gender issues surrounding it, said colleague and fellow doctoral candidate Diane Swords.

‘It is ironic that she was studying cancer when she got it,’ said Swords.

Goodgion served as the social work coordinator for the Onondaga County Public Health Department until 1996 and worked extensively within the community to end violence and to protect battered women, Swords said.

‘Ann was very involved in anti-racism work and gender justice issues,’ said Swords.

Goodgion worked in the Alternative to Violence program in Syracuse area jails, training prisoners to find substitute behaviors for the ones that resulted in their prison sentence, Swords said. She also worked at the Vera House, a shelter for battered women.

‘She definitely lived what she taught,’ Swords said.

As a Quaker, Ann worked within the Quaker community to end social injustice and was fundamental in the organization of a group called the ‘White Anti-Racists,’ Swords said.

‘Ann lived a life that was very value driven,’ said Peg Miller, assistant director and director of field instruction social work at SU. ‘She was extremely principled.’

In addition to teaching at SU, Goodgion also taught part-time at Onondaga Community College, Le Moyne College and Cazenovia College.

‘Ann taught for us for many years. She was a very good teacher and the students really liked her,’ said Miller. ‘She had a unique teaching style that was of a great benefit to our students, and we’ll definitely miss that.’

Ann is survived by two sons, aged 26 and 20. Her memorial service is scheduled for Sunday, September 17 at 10:30 a.m. in Thorndon Park.

Published on September 6, 2006 at 12:00 pm