John Goodban

John Nicholas “Nick” Goodban was born in Hong Kong on December 23, 1941, two days before the Japanese captured the British colony. His parents and he, who were British subjects, were held captive until the end of WWII.  After attending boarding schools in England, Nick immigrated to the U. S. where he attended graduate school at the University of Illinois, Urbana. He later became a U. S. citizen.

He passed on November 1, 2021 from complications related to Alzheimer’s. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Mary Goodban, and is survived by his wife, Marjorie, and daughters, Joanna and Caroline, in Colorado; and his younger siblings: Diana, in Scotland; Katharine, in Wales; and David, in England.

Nick was Senior Vice-President for Philanthropy at the Tribune McCormick Foundation and was the recipient of numerous awards related to the support of charitable organizations in Chicago. He was known for his kindness and energy, a humanitarian who had a concern for and interest in everyone. His outside interests included being first cellist for the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, also serving as its president; a member of the Elmhurst Chorale Union and an occasional soloist; an instructor for a BMW high-speed driving school; and a finisher of a number of marathons and triathlons.

A Memorial Service will be held for Nick on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 1:00pm at Horan & McConaty, 7577 W. 80th Ave. Arvada, CO 80003.