Stuart Paul Goldberg

I grew up with Stuart in Plainfield, NJ and was so very sad to learn, just the other day, of his passing. We had gone to elementary school together; were part of the same social crowd through junior high; had attended the same dance classes in Benjy Bilus's basement rec room to "get ready for" bar mitzvahs; and then attended the same bar mitzvahs week after week for around a year. Stuart's bar mitzvah was one of the last, but it truly was the grandest of them all; I remember my mother observing that Stuart's mother had keen aesthetics. Growing up, Stuart was always so cute and so positive a presence, yet I nonetheless was startled by how caring and delightful he was at our 20th reunion. Though he referenced then a hankering for writing screenplays, it was clear that he derived satisfaction from having created a successful dental practice and fixed up a Victorian house in a great California town. It was also clear he was very proud of and in love with his wife. (I don't recall his mentioning his daughters at that time, but more likely than not, it was out of sensitivity for the fact that I was, at that time, married but still childless.) Anyhow, though I am so sorry for your whole family that you did not have Stuart in your life for a much longer time, I was glad to gather from what you shared online that Stuart had lived a very full life that included a wonderful family, appreciative patients, interesting international travel, and significant community service.