Walter Flato Goodman

Walter Flato Goodman, 91, of Miami, Florida passed away Sunday, October 6, 2013 at Sister Emmanuel Hospital.

Born Aug. 15, 1922 in Rye, N.Y, Goodman went to Yale University before joining the army in January 1943. When World War II ended he returned to Yale, where he received his bachelor’s degree in international relations. He later earned a master’s in history at Columbia University.

Goodman went on to become a trust officer at the Bank of New York, an associate producer at NBC and at Mike Ellis Productions. But his true love was purebred dogs.

Goodman was also a founding member of the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog and of the Canine Health Foundation. As a member of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine Board of Overseers, he co-founded with Flanders the Walter Flato Goodman Center for Comparative Medical Genetics.

In 2011 he received the American Kennel Club’s Lifetime Achievement Award; a year later he was inducted into the 2012 Anne Rogers Clark Hall of Fame at the Show Dogs of the Year Awards.

Outside of his passion for dogs, Goodman loved to travel and went around the world nine times. He also was a patron of the arts and a life trustee of Vizcaya.

“He did everything with effortless style and grace,” Flanders said.

In addition to Flanders, Goodman is survived by five nieces and nephews and his Norfolk terrier, Gypsy.

A memorial “celebration of life” will be held early next year.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Walter Flato Goodman Center for Comparative Medical Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3800 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104-6008.

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