The Bea Blog consists of excerpts from the
diaries my grandmother Bea Cohen (1899-1985) kept for 38 years, starting in
1913. For more background, see Part I -- Intro and 1913 (under Blog Archive).
Here are
excerpts from Bea’s 1964 diary relating to Andrew Goodman, the grandson of
Bea’s friend Sylvia Goodman.
Fifty years ago this month, Andrew Goodman was murdered in Mississippi, along with fellow civil rights workers James Chaney and Michael Schwerner. 
Andrew Goodman 1943-1964 (CorbisImages)
(Note: I always knew that Bea had a friend named Sylvia Goodman, but I did not know Sylvia’s connection to Andrew Goodman until I came upon these entries.)
June
June 23
Sylvia
called me in morning re Andy Goodman’s disappearance in Miss. [on June 21] –
would I send a telegram to Justice Department which I did. Carolyn and Bobby
[Sylvia’s daughter-in-law and son] went to Wash. and saw [President] Johnson –
publicity in papers and TV. Hope to God they are found alive.
June 24
Later
to Sylvia’s – no new news re Andy – every news broadcast talks about it, but
hope is dim […] Incredible story – can’t give up hope but where could those
boys be, if alive?
June 25
Miss.
hunt for 3 boys revealing nothing – on every broadcast. Spoke to Sylvia.
June 26
I
spoke to Sylvia at dinner time. No news.
June 28
Much
to read and hear about Miss. – civil rights – boys must be dead.
June 29
Spoke
to Sylvia – it is all so sad.
July
July 6
I
called Sylvia in [Tupper Lake, NY] – misses Charles.
The Goodmans had
a country house in Tupper Lake, NY. Charles Goodman, Sylvia’s husband and
Andrew’s grandfather, had died in 1963.
August
August 5
Miss.
bodies found [yesterday]
August 7
Called
Sylvia […] funeral for Andrew Sunday – I’ll go.
August 9
Went
to Andrew Goodman’s funeral at [the Ethical Culture Society]
[…]
Will remember it – don’t have to write – hundreds of people outside.
The mothers of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner at the Goodman service on August 9, 1964 (“Slain Rights Workers Mourned by Thousands at Services Here,” http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E03E7D6163DE13ABC4852DFBE66838F679EDE)
Bea and Sylvia
continue their friendship in the years to come. Bea dies in 1985 at 85. Sylvia
dies in 1993 at 92.
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