David Riley Goodwin, 72, of La Porte, Indiana, and formerly of San Antonio, Texas, passed away after a fall at his home on Friday March 2, 2012. He was born on July 21, 1939 to David G. and Mary E. (Johnson) Goodwin. He graduated from La Porte High School in 1957 and attended Indiana University as well as the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.
He is survived by cousins, Mary Jane Hoffman of Frankfort, Indiana; Barbara Steele Briggs of San Francisco, California; Phillip H. Steele, David E. Steele, Carl F. Goodwin, Paul Goodwin, James Steward, and Carol Masengale.
David began taking cello lessons at age 11 and studied with Hans Hess, Harry Sturm and Phillip Blum. In high school, he played with the Michigan City Symphony Orchestra and other local music groups. His professional career began with the North Carolina and Shreveport, Louisana., symphony orchestras. He spent most of his career with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, where he played the cello from 1964 until 2009. He was known to his friends as "Big Dave," a funny, gentle giant who loved telling stories. He often spent his free time bowling, playing golf or taking photos, and in recent years enjoyed spending holidays with his Hoffman relatives in Indiana. Upon retirement, he returned to his hometown of La Porte.
A graveside service will be held at Johnson Cemetery in Stockwell, Indiana on Saturday March 10, 2012 at 2 p.m.
Memorial donations may be sent to the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, www.sasymphony.org
Cutler Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com .