Beloved Geyserville teacher honored by students

Brad Goodhart, a beloved Geyserville teacher, died Jan. 7 due to complications resulting from a fall at his home in rural Mendocino County. He was 68.

Over the past 39 years, Goodhart also planned and led more than 100 safaris in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and the Congo for eco-tourism companies, his own company and private individuals. While opening new areas to eco-tourists interested in observing Africa’s unique wildlife, he also coordinated fundraising campaigns for schools and orphanages in Tanzania, Uganda and Ecuador.

He served on the board of the African Orphans Foundation, and his wife, Paddy Moore-Goodhart, is the Leakey Foundations’ grants officer.

At Geyserville New Tech Academy, Goodhart spent 18 years teaching science, chemistry, physics, biology, integrated science and AP English. He also taught elective classes in marine biology, astronomy, science fiction and global studies.

Principal Katherine Hadden helped students cope with the loss by bringing a grief counselor to the campus. She said that Goodhart was respected by staff and students.

“He encouraged students to look into their future and understand that they could have a positive impact on themselves and others,” she said. “He was a wonderful human being and was loved by everyone who met him.”

Before coming to Geyserville, Goodhart taught at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland and ran his own business, teaching SAT prep classes at Bishop O’Dowd and other locations around the Bay Area.

A celebration of his life was held Monday at Villa Chanticleer in Healdsburg with family, friends and students from his academic and travel careers.

As a senior project, seniors in his global studies class plan to repair and fix up the green house he and past students built several years ago. On Earth Day, the students would like to have it finished and have a dedication ceremony to honor Goodhart.

Goodhart’s family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to two organizations that were very important to Goodhart: The African Orphans Foundation and Doctors Without Borders.

Contact Geyserville Towns Correspondent Deborah Rust at thewinemaven@yahoo.com.