GOODRICH, Allan B. April 30, 1943 to February 8, 2026
Of West Newton, MA, passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2026. He was born on April 30, 1943 in Middletown, Connecticut, youngest son of Frederick W. Goodrich II and Florence (Wilson) Goodrich.
He grew up on his family farm in Portland, Connecticut, which grew the popular Connecticut shade tobacco.
He graduated from Portland High School in 1961 and graduated with a B.A. degree in history from Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, PA in 1965, while subsequently receiving a senior history award. After graduating with an M.A. degree in history from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst in 1967, he joined the National Archives in 1969 and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in 1970.
He began as the Library’s first audiovisual archivist, responsible for creating the first-ever subzero temperature storage unit for photos and documents. He documented the construction of the present John F. Kennedy Library and Museum in Columbia Point, Dorchester (Boston) from methane emitting landfill to its present form. He helped acquire the historic Josiah Hawes glass negatives of Old Boston. He was the unofficial photographer of seminal events that took place at the Library. He became Chief Archivist of the Library in 2003 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Archivist of the United States in 2008 for his forty plus years of distinguished service. He was a trusted advisor to the Curator and Directors of the Library, and a respected colleague and mentor to the staff.
After retiring in 2009, he enjoyed his cats, his summer home in Snug Harbor, Rhode Island, maintaining two gardens, reading, doing crossword puzzles, and organizing the Goodrich family archive for the Portland (Conn.) Historical Society. He was also a 60-year member of the Warren Lodge #51, AF&AM, of Portland, Conn.
He leaves his wife of 56 years, Maria Teresa, sons Frederick III, Peter (and daughter-in-law Alice), and Allan Jr., grandchildren Michael and Eleanor, his brother Donald (and sister-in-law Barbara), and niece Lindsay. He was predeceased by his parents and brother Frederick Rossiter.
His family thanks the Adult Leukemia Unit at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the physicians and staff at Brigham & Women’s Hospital for their care and support of Allan.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
The Portland Historical Society would welcome support on his behalf.