Goodheart Family Home (Site)

These coordinates mark the exact spot where the home once stood. No visible remains exist.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Spring 2009 edition of the "Franconia Legacies" newsletter published by the Franconia Museum:

IN MEMORIAM:
Anthony Joseph (Mark) Goodheart
August 22, 1914 – December 6, 2008

Marilyn Audrey Goodheart
April 20, 1923 – December 10, 2008

Survived by their children, Sharon A. Cerick, Steven B. Goodheart, Linda S. Casey and Donna J. Cunningham; grandparents of Mike, Stephanie, Kristin, Steven, Christopher and Tyler; step-grandparents of Laura, Paula, Mike and Dana; step-great-grandparents of Evan and Olivia. They were laid to rest the same day, December 19, 2008 at Fairfax Memorial Park.

Mark was a retired Oceanographer, and former Director of the Research and Development Laboratory at National Oceanographic Aeronautical Administration, in Rockville, Maryland. Both Mark and Marilyn were involved in school and community activities. Mark was a charter member of the Springfield-Franconia Lions Club organized July 28, 1954 with 30 members. He also served as the Franconia Volunteer Fire Department president 1949-1951. Under his tenure, Paul Newton and Ed Holland suggested that a rescue squad be started. Because Paul and Ed were closely allied with Fort Belvoir, they were able to procure, at no cost, an ambulance that had been decommissioned. A motion was presented and voted down to accept the idea of a Rescue Squad. It was then that Mark suggested forming an independent corporation. After this was accomplished, there was no place to store the ambulance. Finally, fire department members were persuaded to permit its storage in the new fire station addition on Franconia Road. The next problem presented was that the ambulance had no gas; and that the new corporation had no funds; at which time Mark reached in his pocket and went on record as contributing the first $10 to the newly-formed rescue squad. It soon was supported by the community.

Marilyn was active with the Ladies Auxiliary, and went door-to-door collecting funds. Marilyn was a talented person who enjoyed writing and needle work, which she shared with her many friends. Each Christmas I display on my refrigerator a “HO HO HO” magnet that she made.

Mark, the youngest of five children was born in Savoy, Montana. Marilyn, the eldest of five was born in Grand Island, Nebraska and was reared in Denver, Colorado. After their marriage on March 17, 1945, they moved east for employment. They lived on Tilbury Road (off Valley View Drive) in Franconia for 58 years. Greenspring Village in Springfield became their home in 2004, where they lived out their lives.

Mark and Marilyn were regulars at the Franconia Lunch Bunch get-together each month until their health began to fail. Their story was captured in “Franconia Remembers, Volume II.” One of Marilyn’s poems, “Life’s Shadows,” is featured in the story.

The following letter written by Mark was a contest entry in 2003:

My Family Car Story Contest:
As my family entered Yellowstone National Park in our 1950 Buick, I noticed signs which instructed, “DO NOT FEED THE BEARS.” My wife had neatly filed our three “Are we there yet” youngsters in the back seat. Stopping the car, I warned everyone, wife included, against rolling windows down. Something touched my shoulder and, turning, I found myself nose to nose with a huge, hungry-looking bear, its head inside my open window. I screamed, gunned the Buick and left the frustrated bear eating my dust! Humiliated, I journeyed on, trapped in a car with four deliriously laughing passengers.

Mark and Marilyn enjoyed many friendships — they were fun and full of interesting stories. Franconia will miss them!