A Good man

Reverend Good served as Dean of Derry from 1967 until his retirement in 1984.

Current Dean of Derry, the Very Reverend Dr William Morton fondly recalled his memories of the man remembered most for his kindness.

Dean Morton said: “I knew Dean Good very well even though he had retired a few years before I’d even been ordained.

“He often came here to the deanery and stayed with us when he was attending events in Derry. In fact he still had a key for the deanery and just used to come ahead in.

“He was a great character and a very kind man. In fact, he was renowned for his kindness to people, he was very thoughtful and considerate.

“A typical example of the man was that if there was someone ill in Belfast he would be the first to volunteer to drive them there.

“In fact in his funeral address the Reverend Michael Classon recalled the story of how when Dean Good’s own car was broken down he got the lend of a car to drive a family attending a sick child to go and visit them. So, he was an amazing character.

“Everyone that you’ll meet will have a different story about him. Another facet of his character was that he was a tremendous sportsman. He was a great golfer in particular and was still playing up until just a few years ago.

“He was also very much into sailing and at one point served as Commodore of the Lough Swilly Yacht Club. In later years he was very fond of snooker and pool and he played all these in Portnoo.”

Reverend Good was also made a Freeman of the City of London by The Honourable The Irish Society, prior to his retirement in 1984. Dean Morton said that Rev Good above all else was a great communicator and this perhaps was a key to his tremendous character.

“Various people have commented upon his ability to meet people, particularly young people. In despite of the age difference, it didn’t matter one bit,” he said.

Dean Morton added: “Dean Good had a very pronounced pastoral ministry and the main thing was his interest in people. There are many facets to the role of dean and as someone put it to me ‘he was a man greatly loved.’

“Relationships is the word that sums him up the most-his ability to make and maintain relationships. As we heard on the radio last week many people in the Roman Catholic community knew him and were very fond of him.

“He was just a man that nothing worried him and he just took it all as it came.

“It was the end of a real chapter with his passing.”

l Read further comment on the life of Dean George Good on pages 38-39.