[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 17 (Monday, January 29, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      A TRIBUTE TO MR. WILFRED G. GOODEN--REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER, 
              PHILANTHROPIST, CIVIC AND POLITICAL ACTIVIST

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 29, 2007

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life 
and legacy of Wilfred G. Gooden, civic and political activist who left 
this world at the age of 84 years and to enter into the Record an 
article in the New York Carib News entitled ``Wilfred G. Gooden, 84, a 
Real Estate Developer, Philanthropist, Civic and Political Activist.''
  Wilfred G. Gooden was born in Jamaica and spent 60 years residing in 
New York City. His life is one of those rags to riches stories, 
including a social, charitable, and political side. Mr. Gooden began in 
1977 rehabilitating city-owned abandoned apartment houses, under the 
Federal Government's section 8 housing subsidy program, along the area 
of 145th Street from Broadway east to Amsterdam, then south along 
Amsterdam toward 144th Street.
  Gooden never forgot his Jamaican roots. He founded the American 
Friends of Jamaica in 1982 and remained as a director on its board 
until his death and founded the Concerned Committee For Christian 
Education, CCCE, which supported two schools, one in New York and the 
other in Jamaica. He has received several accolades including the Order 
of Distinction, O.D., for his contribution to Jamaican charities from 
the Government of Jamaica and an honorary degree of human letters from 
the Faith Grant College of Alabama.
  Even though Wilfred G. Gooden passed away on January 6, 2007, his 
contributions to Harlem, my congressional district, are ever present in 
the buildings he rehabilitated in the area. Please join me in extending 
heartfelt sympathies to his beloved wife, Sybil, and brother, Vibert.

 Wilfred G. Gooden, 84, a Real Estate Developer, Philanthropist, Civic 
                         and Political Activist

       Dr. Wilfred G. Gooden, O.D., of Riverdale, New York, a 
     Jamaican American who arrived in New York almost penniless 
     from Jamaica in 1945, worked hard, saved his money and become 
     one of Harlem's most successful real estate developers. He 
     died in Kingston, Jamaica W.I., at Andrews Memorial Hospital 
     on January 6th, 2007 just weeks away from his 85th birthday.
       Mr. Gooden's life embodied not only a rags to riches story, 
     but he entered the social, business, charity and political 
     life of the city, and never forgot his Jamaican roots.
       He was a founder of The American Friends of Jamaica in 1982 
     and remained as a director on its board until his death. The 
     Government of Jamaica honored him with the ``Order of 
     Distinction (O.D.) for his contribution to Jamaican charities 
     and the Faith*Grant College of Alabama presented Mr. Gooden 
     with an Honorary Degree of Human Letters, He also founded The 
     Concerned Committee For Christian Education (CCCE) which 
     supported two schools, one in New York and the other in 
     Jamaica.
       It was not unusual to walk into his home and find 
     Congressman Charles R. Rangel and former Mayor David Dinkins 
     in good active conversation. In Jamaica he counted at least 
     three former Prime Ministers as good friends, The Most Hon. 
     Michael Manley, Edward Seaga and P.J. Patterson.
       His Christmas season trips were legendary on behalf of The 
     Concerned Committee For Christian Education (Seventh Day 
     Adventists) when he distributed clothing, books, toys and 
     blankets to the children of families in need.
       Mr. Gooden is survived by his beloved wife Sybil and a 
     brother, Vibert who is 93 years young of Atlanta, Georgia.
       In Lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Concerned 
     Committee For Christian Education (CCCE) Box 683, New York, 
     NY 10039.
       Viewing will take place on Sunday 21, 2007 from 3:00 p.m. 
     to 4:30 p.m. followed by the memorial service at 5:00 p.m. at 
     The Ephesus Seventh Day Adventists Church at West 123rd 
     Street and Lenox Avenue (Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.) The 
     burial will be Monday at 10:00 a.m.

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