Richard E. Goodman, a distinguished faculty member at UC Berkeley from 1964 to 1994, passed away at the age of 90 in Anchorage, Alaska. His remarkable career and contributions to the fields of rock mechanics and engineering geology have left an indelible mark on the scientific community.
Professor Goodman received his Ph.D. in Engineering Science (Geological Engineering) from UC Berkeley, where he studied as a Ford Foundation Fellow from 1960 to 1963. His academic journey began at Cornell University, where he earned his B.S. in Geology (1955) and M.S. in Civil Engineering and Economic Geology (1958). At UC Berkeley, he rose through the ranks from Assistant Professor to Distinguished Professor of Geological Engineering, and continued to serve as Emeritus Professor of Engineering from 1994 until his passing.
Through his research and consulting work, Professor Goodman made seminal contributions to engineering geology and rock mechanics. He developed the “Goodman Jack,” an apparatus for in-situ measurement of rock properties, and pioneered the identification of failure modes and kinematics of jointed rock masses. His collaboration with Dr. Gen Hua Shi led to the development of block theory, a significant advancement in rock engineering.
More details of his accomplishments can be found on the UC Berkley rememberance post.
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