Patty Goodman – A Polio Survivor
Patty was born in Lima, Peru as her father was in the US Air Force and stationed there. When she was fourteen months old she and her siblings became ill with what the Peruvian doctors thought was the flu. When she tried to walk to her father one morning she would fall every time she took a step toward him. Her father was also a pilot so he flew to Panama to bring an American doctor back to look at his children and the doctor confirmed it was polio.
Rotary Club Meeting Highlights – April 16, 2019
Patty Goodman – A Polio Survivor
Patty was born in Lima, Peru as her father was in the US Air Force and stationed there. When she was fourteen months old she and her siblings became ill with what the Peruvian doctors thought was the flu. When she tried to walk to her father one morning she would fall every time she took a step toward him. Her father was also a pilot so he flew to Panama to bring an American doctor back to look at his children and the doctor confirmed it was polio.
Patty was four when the family returned to the United States and underwent many surgeries and frequent physical therapy visits. She wore a brace on her leg and at times was confined to a wheelchair. Several of the surgeries were successful and helped free Patty of her brace. The therapy that seemed to work the best for Patty was swimming.
Growing up with polio was challenging in many ways as Patty eluded to in her talk but she feels that she has been blessed as she had a wonderful family support system as well as access to the medical care the US Air Force afforded her. Today Patty feels that maintaining a positive attitude, staying active, swimming and massage are key to quality of life.
Patty graduated from Hayward High school and Chabot College. She was in banking for 30 years, 16 of them as manager of Great Western Bank in Castro Valley. She has been a longtime friend of Castro Valley Rotary and attended meetings before women were allowed to join. Patty met her husband of 36 years, Larry Goodman, at a Castro Valley Rotary function. Larry served on the Castro Valley School Board and became a Superior Court Judge in Alameda County where he served for 33 years.
(Rev 7-19)
