Donate to the David Goodwick Animal Adoption Room

The Goodwick family graciously requests your assistance as we raise money to create a naming opportunity in memory of David Goodwick at the Aiken County Animal Shelter in Aiken, South Carolina.

We are raising $10,000 to name an adoption room in memory of David Goodwick, who was a true friend to the animals. This space will be where new families will be made when adopters meet their new pet for the first time.

The Friends of the Aiken Shelter (FOTAS) is currently putting the finishing touches on a new building that will include more space for adoptions, education programs, and training. Within this building, will be new adoption rooms that will provide a quiet, controlled environment where prospective adopters can get to know their new best friend.

Over his lifetime, David Goodwick rescued countless animals through adoption and fostering. He also regularly donated to animal charities. Please help us remember him by creating this naming opportunity in his memory. Thank you,

Christie, Lindsey, Jesse, Jamie, & Laurie

..and Kofi, Lucy, Murray, Boozer, Teeny Tiny Tina Turner, and Blue & Mr. Peterman

P.S. If you have already donated directly to the shelter, thank you! They are keeping track of donations that have gone directly to the shelter and those are being factored into the total raised for this naming opportunity too.

Remembering David Goodwick

“All you touch and all you see, is all your life will ever be”. – Pink Floyd

David Goodwick, husband, father, brother, son, grandfather, musician, fisherman, animal-lover, & friend to many, passed away on August 30, 2022. David had a tender spirit with a seemingly endless capacity to care about the world he lived in and the people and animals he shared it with. He was soft-spoken, and yet his presence brought with it an energy that involved everyone in the room.

Born in Beloit, Wisconsin to parents Jim and Helen Goodwick, he grew up with his sister Laurie in a home filled with music. His mother taught music lessons, and with her as a teacher, he became an all-state trumpet player. Much of his time growing up was spent with his father fishing in Wisconsin lakes or playing short-stop in little league baseball.

David attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to study political science and journalism and was the creator and chief editor of the college magazine The Alternative. In 1979 he moved to Connecticut to work for General Electric where he met his wife of 41 years, Christie. They moved to Newtown, CT where they would live for 30 years and raise three children: Lindsey, Jesse, and Jamie.

In 1982, he founded Goodwick Associates, Inc, a business-to-business marketing company which would later become Leverage Marketing. An accomplished marketing executive, David won dozens of awards and recognition in his field.

David’s love of music carried on throughout his life. Every home he ever lived in had an in-home studio and every weekend he would jam with his friends and record albums for himself and others. In 2013, he even toured Europe with Procol Harum, playing bass guitar. His children inherited his profound love of music and play on in his memory.

In 2008, David retired, and he and Christie moved to Aiken, SC where he would spend his final years playing in local bands, fishing from his boat, and rescuing animals in need. He was a true friend of animals and had a home of rescued dogs and cats that he loved dearly. Animals brought David incredible joy and his heart was full when he had them near.

David was an incredibly selfless and generous person who took pride in helping others succeed whether it was coaching little league softball or serving as a mentor and friend to colleagues and family. He was an instant friend to all who met him and he loved spending time with friends and often would attend the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Green Bay Packers games with his sons.

David leaves behind his wife, three children, five grandchildren, sister, his five dogs, five cats, and two mini horses. We like to think of him now alongside his favorite pets who preceded him in death: Bentley, Lexus, Patton, Girlfriend, Schnitzel, Governor, Amy, Bela, Shakespeare, Poopy Pants, and many more.