Obituary of Deborah Goodrow

Deborah “Debbie” Goodrow, who passed away on February 23, 2024, after a valiant battle with cancer, was a luminous figure whose life was a testament to the power of creativity and compassion. At the age of 70, she left behind a legacy enriched by her charismatic personality, her dedication to the arts, and her unwavering commitment to bringing joy and hope to others. Debbie’s significant contributions to the polymer clay community and career as “Twinkle”, her persona as a professional clown, underscored her passion for her craft and her desire to make a difference in the lives of those around her. Her magnetic personality drew people to her, creating an atmosphere of warmth and joy wherever she went.

Debbie’s artistic journey was marked by her colorful and intricate designs with polymer clay. Her best days were spent in her art room creating with her friends. Beyond her own work, she had a remarkable gift for encouraging others to explore their creativity. She was always ready to share her knowledge, offer constructive feedback, and celebrate the achievements of fellow artists, making her an invaluable mentor and friend to many. It was this abundance of altruism that also showed up in her life as Twinkle as well. As part of the Sawdust Clowns of Stratford Connecticut, she loved bringing laughter to children as well as helping parties go smoothly for the adults.

Through her tenure within the Southern Connecticut Polymer Clay Guild, and later on the Sun City Center Lapidary Club, she fostered a supportive artistic community. Debbie was instrumental in organizing events, workshops, and exhibitions, always with the goal of bringing artists together and elevating the craft of polymer clay. One of her treasured pastimes was teaching others the wonders of working with polymer clay, and later on she looked forward every week to teaching other people at the Lapidary Club. It was her generosity that fueled her wish to give her art pieces out to other people, so that everyone could share in the art appreciation. Debbie was also deeply involved with the Bottles of Hope initiative, both with securing the bottles themselves from Yale New Haven Hospital where she worked, and more importantly with decorating them and distributing them back to cancer patients within the hospital making sure that no patient was left out.

As we bid farewell to Debbie, we celebrate her remarkable life and the indelible mark she left on the people she met, her art, and the countless individuals she touched with her laughter and spirit. Her love of animals, legacy of creativity, encouragement, and compassion will continue to inspire and resonate within the hearts of all who knew her. Debbie’s presence will be profoundly missed, yet her boundless generosity will forever remain a beacon of hope and inspiration. She is survived by her son Patrick, his wife Sammi, her sisters Diane and Wendy, and her beloved cats Wilbur and Orville.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 2:00 pm on March 23rd at the Sun City Center Community Center in the Sandpiper Room (details below).

In lieu of flowers, she asked that donations be made to the Sun City Center Lapidary Club (details below), honoring Debbie’s commitment to art, and the inspiration to artists around her.

Sun City Center Community                                     Sun City Center Lapidary Club

945 N Course Ln                                                        1009 North Pebble Beach Boulevard

Sun City Center, FL 33573                                        Sun City Center, FL 33573

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2XfqnFYUyeS1CB2u9     https://tinyurl.com/mrasd58f