Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Obituary: Professor Lee Goodridge (aka Kyoshi)

What a loss to humanity! May His Soul Rest In Peace!

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From: Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>
To: dialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>
Cc: "Jacquemin, Celine" <cjacquemin1@stmarytx.edu>
Sent: Saturday, August 10, 2013 4:23 AM
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Obituary: Professor Lee Goodridge (aka Kyoshi)

Professor Lee Goodridge, 68 (also known as Kyoshi, which means FaithMaster) was called home by God on Thursday, July 25, 2013. He was born in Port Jefferson, NY on October 7, 1944 to Walter Leslie Goodridge Sr. and Gracie M. Brown. He came to Christ at an early age and was baptized at First Baptist Church of Riverhead, NY. He grew up surrounded by the extended Brown family; his mother Gracie Brown was one of 13 children. He spent much time at his grandmother Roselle Brown's house across from Riverhead High School. In High School, Lee was a superb athlete on the cross country and track team. During his years there with his brother Ron, their school team was known as the "Mighty Mites" and was undefeated for 78 meets. 

After enlisting in the United States Air Force and being stationed at Clark Air Force Base in 1968 in the Philippines, he began his Martial Arts training and studied Goju Ryu under Master Marcello Umipeg, Shichidan, from 1968-1969. He attained level of green belt, brown tips. In the Philippines, he also met his beautiful wife Erlinda Superio Canonigo whom he married on May 3, 1969 at Holy Rosary Parish Church. He resided in the Philippines until his change of duty assignment in 1979 that brought him to San Antonio where he served at Wilford Hall Medical Center until 1991. He retired from the United States Air Force as a Master Sergeant.

In 1995, he co-founded the Kojukan Jujitsu Academy where he taught traditional Japanese Jujitsu. Nominated by Grandmaster Soke Chaka Zulu of the Zujitsu Ryu Federation, in September 2000, Prof Lee was inducted into the World Family Sokeship Council Hall of Fame as one of the rare Millennium Master Instructors.

In 2005, Prof Lee met Dr Céline A. Jacquemin in his dojo. Prof Lee & Dr Céline were married on May 23, 2008 at True Vine Baptist Church in San Antonio. In August 2006, he received his 8th degree Black Belt from Soke Chaka Zulu. In August 2008, Kyoshi Lee Goodridge was awarded the Golden Life Achievement Award for 40 years in the Martial Arts by the World Head of Family Sokeship Council for its International Hall of Fame.

Since Spring 2011, Prof Lee Goodridge taught Martial Arts Self-defense at St Mary's University where he enjoyed spending more time with younger students often unaware of simple principles to protect themselves and lead a life of integrity. He had also over the years assisted his wife by teaching self-defense and by providing additional mentoring to her students by playing the scary Martial Arts Master counter to her motherly advocate routine. When diagnosed with a bone marrow cancer on May 30, 2013, he was in such excellent health otherwise that Prof Lee was sure he would beat it despiteits most advanced stage. He first foiled its attack on his kidneys. And in the past couple weeks when the cancer turned to his heart, he stopped that too.

His wife, Dr Céline, was blessed to have been there by his side for over 8

years and in this last moment to see him smile before his body shut down. He had been having an increasingly hard time with not being able to teach Jujitsu or sing on the praise team in church which were his two ministries. He loved God so much that God gave him one last chance to teach Jujitsu for a few minutes at his favorite Taekwondo Master and friend's dojo. After stepping off the mat, Kyoshi bowed out of life.

So as hard as it is to come to term with his being called home by God, we should realize, Prof Lee Goodridge got a promotion. Since 2002 when he joined True Vine Baptist Church, he sang behind Pastor Jesse L. Grice. Now Professor Lee sings before

Christ. That is the utmost promotion!

"Prof Lee said this cancer was him working on his testimony. As his wife, I was angry at first that God would not have let him finish his work. But I have since realized, during this devastating time that only unwavering Faith can overcome, his passing has already

opened the eyes & heart of my nephew to Christ. The wake, the services, the conversations and the long term work through his memorial fund, THESE are his testimonies." Dr Céline

He is preceded in death by his wife, Erlinda Superio Goodridge, his father Walter Leslie Goodridge, and his mother Gracie M. Goodridge.

He is survived by his wife, Dr Céline A. Jacquemin, by his children,Teresa S. Smith, wife of Kenneth, Joseph Michael Goodridge, husband to Teresa, and Lorraine Michelle Goodridge; his grandchildren, Anika Michelle Barton, Kristoffer Natan Goodridge, Brandon Kenneth Smith, Ryan Mitchell Shields, and Phoebe Elizabeth Goodridge; his younger brother, Ron Goodridge (Artemia Goodridge) and nephew Victor Leon Goodridge, and grandniece Jasmine Goodridge, his sole surviving uncle, Frank Brown, husband to

Dot, and many cousins from the extended Brown Family in Riverhead, Long Island, NY and all around the United States.

"

Dr. Celine's Testimony

What I learned from Kyoshi (my martial arts professor & husband) has had ripple effects in my life. My struggles in learning Jujitsu remind me every day to be kind to my own students who struggle. Developing a kiai or spirit shout has helped me to further develop my spirit and spirituality. I am not only more vocal about Jujitsu than ever before but I am more vocal about my walk with God and the strength of my Faith. Most of all Kyoshi was MY 'Godsend'. I came to St Mary's University to fulfill my promise to God to teach about our God given human rights and to be an advocate for students. God brought me to St Mary's to be even closer to Him and God gave me Kyoshi, Faith Master. My Professor taught me to live a much more spiritual life in service and protection of others for the glory of God. God gave me with Kyoshi the most amazing friend and partner and gave me three big families: his children who welcomed me since the beginning as their sister in Christ, and the many amazing people from his church plus our dojo family. I gave him my St Mary's University Family where he loved to visit with my colleagues and teach self-defense. Our recent trip to Africa had awaken an even deeper sense of service to all of God's children and checked off all remaining items on his bucket list. Today, I truly feel like Job, no matter my tragedy, I will not turn away from Jesus, my Lord, and my Savior. I know many of you worry for me now, but I want to reassure you, I STAND in Psalm 18 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, ..."

 

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