Industry Vet Lost to Pandemic

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Arnie Goodrich

Arnie Goodrich–A Tribute

by Chuck Schneider

 

I lost my mentor to the Coronavirus today. His name was Arnold R. Goodrich but everyone just called him Arnie. He was the original Alpine rep for New England. The virus took him at age 94.

I met Arnie at my first CE job, salesman at a local stereo store in Boston half way between Boston College and my alma mater, Boston University. With a location like that 1969 you can imagine that we sold a lot of stuff but were all just long-haired pot smoking hippies who loved music.

One spring Saturday morning before the store opened, Arnie, then a rep, delivered the first sales training I’d ever heard. It wasn’t about his products, it was all about selling. Arnie thought being a salesperson was the most wonderful job in the world. ”If you remain enthusiastic, knowledgeable and maintain your integrity, you can make a good honest living.” If you guessed that Arnie was a Dale Carnegie graduate, you’d be right.

As the 1970s rolled along, Arnie, like many rep salesmen,  decided to start his own firm.  He wore impeccably tailored suits, with not a hair out of place and he had a dazzling smile, sparkling eyes and more charm that a successful TV game show host.

The early lines were most often startups or accessories but he had such a following that near every store owner or buyer bought what they could from Arnie because we all wanted him to succeed.

He did succeed…big time. In the late 70s he became the charter Alpine rep for New England. Within a couple of years, Arnie and fifteen or so of his rep principal peers had what every rep dreams of–a line that rockets from couch change to a legal machine that printed money.

This new found wealth didn’t change Arnie the way some reps who strike gold changed. He started giving much more to his church, put money away for his kids and a rainy day fund in case all those 30-day rep contracts blew up. Oh yeah, he traded in his familiar Oldsmobile for a long coveted  Lincoln Town Car like his old boss had. “Bigger trunk,” he’d wink. “Holds more samples.”

Good lines like Alpine make vendors stand up and take notice. Soon Arnie would need that trunk space as an early rep for Kicker. All the while his firm, Northeast Stereo Marketing, still dabbled in home audio, anchored by Alpine’s sister company, Luxman.

Within a few hours of Arnie Goodrich Jr.’s Facebook post telling of the loss of his dad, industry tributes began lighting up the screen. Accolades like “a true legend,” “a real professional,” “such a pleasant man” and “the last honest rep”were interspersed with remembrances from friends and neighbors such as “a true Pillar of his First (Congregational) Church.”

Arnold Goodrich was born in Rochester NY but raised in Westwood  MA, a suburb southwest of Boston. He attended Paul Smith’s College in upstate New York and served his country as a proud member of the United States Air Force.

He is survived by the true love of his life, Barbara Goodrich. who was a highly regarded fashion artist for some of America’s finest department stores–most notably Filene’s. Arnie and  Barbara have 4 children–Arnie Jr., Jack, Scott and Leigh. Among the kids there are 9 grandchildren.

In an ironic twist of fate, the dreadful virus that took Arnie from us is currently preventing us from gathering together to celebrate his life. A Memorial is pending.

 

 

 

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3 Comments

  1. Arnie and family – the world is a poorer place without Arnie in it. We will fondly remember Arnie’s kindness and beautiful smile. He was always so supportive and pushing me to – “Know my stuff ” May the days ahead of you be filled with the warmth of knowing you had a very well respected man as your Dad. We thank you all for sharing him with us.

  2. Chuck I don’t know what to say, he may have not been the last honest rep or the only honest rep but he certainly was an honest rep. He loved people and people loved him back.
    Thank you so much. Arnie jr

  3. Thanks Chuck. Arnie was the guy that gave me my first break at repping when no one else would and Arnie didn’t even know me at the time. He taught me everything I know. Like putting the customer first. One of the best lessons he taught me was that lines come and go but your customers are your constant, always put them first.

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