Etendue: Joseph W. and Hon Mae Goodman
Joe and Hon Mai Goodman both admit that the vision of a California life with endless sunshine, pristine beaches and a healthy economy was definitely on their minds. Yet when they each were given a chance to relocate to the sunshine state, the opportunity to advance their education also factored into their decisions.
Born in Boston, Joe Goodman moved to northern California in 1958 to pursue graduate work in electrical engineering at Stanford University. Although his Ph.D. research was on radar countermeasures, he eventually changed his field to modern optics. It was a choice that would lead him into a long career of teaching and research at Stanford while also founding Optivision Inc. with two colleagues (later spinning off ONI Systems Inc.).
Hon Mai had her undergraduate degree from Clark College in Iowa in hand when she accepted an internship offer at Stanford University Hospital. Once her term was completed, the native of Macau, at that time a Portuguese colony, decided to remain employed at the hospital as a dietitian.
For Joe and Hon Mai, originating from two different countries and pursing two different career paths, life had them living only two doors apart in Menlo Park, California. It took their landlord to help cross their paths by introducing them.
In 1962, they married in Norway, where Joe was in the midst of a postdoc.
For the past 52 years together, Joe and Hon Mai both agree that much has been brought into their lives to enjoy. Yet, through it all, the world of education has remained a priority interest. Even their charitable decisions have favored a few select universities, one of which is the UA College of Optical Sciences.
Why is giving to higher education so important to you?
Joe: Education has been my career – but it also has been my passion. Supporting what you believe in makes perfect sense. Also, the decline in government support of education will not be changing – ever. So, it will take people who fully understand the value of education to help it benefit the maximum number of people. Education is exactly what it will take to keep technology moving forward.
Hon Mai: When you offer a person the chance to receive an education, you are giving them more choices in life. You are making a difference in how they and their families will live – and there is also a whole population of people who stands to benefit from what this student will learn.
How did the College of Optical Sciences attract your attention?
Joe: Besides its being a world-leading institution in the teaching and study of optics, I advised three Ph.D. students at Stanford who were eventually offered faculty roles at the College of Optical Sciences – Masud Mansuripur, Jack Gaskill and Ray Kostuk. That’s very rare for three to be in one place. So it was easy to take notice to what was going on there.
In appreciation for the impact you had on his life, Masud established the Joseph W. Goodman Graduate Student Scholarship endowment at the college. It was then quickly supported by several more former students of yours who were successful in their own careers. ...
Joe: Yes, that was quite a surprise and an incredible honor.
You also decided to make a rather significant gift to the Goodman endowment. What motivated your decision?
Joe: We personally appreciated that this fellowship is to support graduate students, and especially in their first-year of study. This is exactly the kind of support that they will need while they determine their research interests. This fellowship will also be important to the college for attracting the best students.
Then, with Jim Wyant’s offer to match our gift* four time over, we knew this would bring the fellowship into a new level of opportunities for its recipients.
Hon Mai: We are very happy that [the scholarship] will be offered to exceptional students. We are also grateful to all those who have contributed to it.
Now that the “golden years” in the Golden State are upon you, what interests are taking up your time?
Hon Mai: We’re making some pretty important choices right now that will also play into our personal interests and social activities, like the arts, theater and music performances. ...
Joe (smiling with amusement):... And we are meeting with a personal trainer so that we can enjoy these adventures.
Learn more about the Joseph W. Goodman Graduate Student Scholarship.
*Find out more about Jim Wyant’s matching gift offer on graduate student scholarships.