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Joseph Sterling Goddard Jr., former sports reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times and The Doings newspapers, passed away Friday Feb. 17. He was 85.
For more than 44 years, Goddard made his career as a sports writer covering both the Chicago Cubs and White Sox from the press box and on the road, as well as sharing stories of high school athletes in his popular “Time Out With Goddard” column which he retired from in 2014.
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“He enjoyed covering professional baseball just as much as he did high school sports,” Goddard’s daughter Laura said. “He loved those kids, he loved telling their stories and sharing their excitement.”
Goddard was inducted into the Hinsdale Central Hall of Fame for his coverage.
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In high school Goddard started a baseball league, the Inverness All Stars, and in 2011 the Inverness Park District named their park’s baseball field the Joe Goddard Field.
Goddard lived in Hinsdale for 10 years before moving to River Forest and later Palos Heights.
Joe was a massive Civil War history buff, according to his wife Carol.
“He went to some local middle schools … and he would bring these little soldiers, he would bring a big old cannon ball and all these artifacts.”
In 2006 Goddard developed Parkinson’s disease, a disorder that causes uncontrollable shaking and stiffness and balance and coordination issues.
“He took it and accepted it with grace, and said ‘we’re just going to continue on and enjoy our lives as long as we can together,’” Carol said.
A celebration of life will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday (Feb. 23) at Kerry Funeral Home, 7020 W. 127th Street, Palos Heights, Ill.
In lieu of flowers attendees may make donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
