IN MEMORIUM
of our members who have passed.
Their memory will continue to live on through their works.
GOFF, Harriett B. - died on April 15, 2010, just 4 days after celebrating her 102nd birthday. Harriett was born on April 11, 1908, outside the village of Davidsville to Otto and Anna Burggraf. Her father was the village smithy. Harriett attended a two-room elementary school house in Davidsville and graduated from Johnstown Central High School. She had an older brother, Robert, who later studied music at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Though Harriett was deeply interested in the
visual arts at an early age, her father insisted
that she study nursing, and so she trained at
Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia and practiced
her skills for a brief time in Johnstown, working
for Dr. Spicker.
In 1935 Harriett married John B. Goff, Jr., and
she was finally able to focus on her art.. In 1936,
during the Depression, the WPA program under
FDR entitled her to take art lessons from George
Ream for the grand sum of 50 cents. These
lessons were followed by instruction from Olga
Henning of Davidsville.
John and Harriett welcomed a son, Bradley, in 1939, and, a few years later, the couple moved to a home on Walnut Street while Harriett continued to paint and study with Lucille Banks in Rector.
Harriett and Lucille became part of a group of artists who were recruited by a Bethlehem executive to depict the exciting day-to-day steel-making processes in the steel mill. These captivating scenes were eventually seen in the administrative offices of the mill and on the walls of the Bethlehem Management Club. Within the recent past, the paintings were displayed in the atrium of Conemaugh Memorial Hospital and now will become part of the steel painting collection at the Discovery Center.
By 1957 Harriett’s reputation had grown and, after being asked by two acquaintances to give art lessons, she began teaching in the attic of the Walnut Street home. In the meantime, pursuant to her desire to further develop her own painting style, she participated in the Famous Artists course, directed by Rockwell and Sloan. She was accepted as a fellow to the American Artists Professional League of New City and entered in the Grand National competition three times. One of the shows was located in the World Trade Center and was entered in the Congressional Record. She was a member of the Allied Artists of Johnstown since 1933, exhibiting in numerous shows and winning many awards.
Harriett continued to teach and mentor the
many students who actively sought her
expertise. Though Harriett loved portraiture
more than any other subject matter, she
excelled in all areas and media including
oil and watercolor. At one time, there was
a waiting list for entry into her classes,
taught in the basement of her Luzerne
Street home and later her Carriage Hills
apartment. The students returned, year
after year..
Lest we think that Harriett was all work and
no play, there was an adventurous side to
her as well. She was fond of telling stories about the time she had a convertible and would joyously ride throughout the countryside with friends, with the top down and hair blowing in the wind. She claimed she had a “heavy foot.” She liked eating out, good jokes, and an occasional martini. With her elegant coiffure, classy outfits and dark sunglasses, she looked like a starlet, even into her nineties. In the past few years, with the help of loving relatives and friends, especially Sandy Grech, and caregivers, Harriett was able to maintain her semi-independent life style in her apartment.
Harriett enjoyed reminiscing and talking about the “beautiful art” of the good old days. Art was her passion, but she loved her dogs, cats, students and friends as well. She encouraged and inspired her students, many of whom continued to paint and became well-known themselves. Somewhere in heaven she is directing some of them saying, “Mix to the value first, than add the color.”
A book entitled "Portrait Painting Atelier: Old Master Techniques and Contemporary Applications" was donated to the Cambria County library in Harriett's memory:
PARRISH, Mark 45, died on March 7, 2010.
Known for his wonderful colored pencil
drawings, he also painted the very first
Morley’s Dog as part of the Morley’s Dog
Art Project. It featured several Johnstown
landmarks in exquisite detail.
A book, “Colored Pencil Painting Bible”
was donated to the Cambria County
Library by AAJ in Mark's memory.
above and left:
Harriett celebrated her 100th Birthday at the Community Arts Center with many of her artist friends.
Painting by Harriett Goff
Portrait by Harriett Goff
above: Mark Parrish with his entry in
the 2009 Annual Show
left: Morley's Dog by Parrish
VARGO, Sandy, 72, died Feb. 5, 2011, at Memorial Medical Center. Member of Allied Artists, DAR and Cambria County Arts Center.
A book will be donated to the Cambria County Library in her memory.
right: Sandy was always willing to assist with the hospitality during show openings and to offer her help in different capacities.
WELSH, Ralph Calvin III, 69, of Somerset, Pa., died May 24, 2011, at Somerset Hospice House, Somerset.
Born Aug. 11, 1941 in Somerset.
We can still admire his work at:
KOSOSKI – Walter “Fat” S., 90,
Jerome, died Jan. 6, 2012, at
Memorial Medical Center. Born
Oct. 8, 1921, and married to wife,
Jeanne. A 1942 graduate of
Conemaugh Township Area High
School. U.S. Army Air Force
veteran of World War II, having
served in the European and
African theaters. A 1949 graduate
of Edinboro State Teacher’s
College. He also obtained his
master’s degree in art education
from Penn State University in
1959.
His teaching career began as an
elementary art supervisor and high
school art instructor at Cresson High School. Later he was the art instructor for Conemaugh Township Area High School, where he was the dean of the classes of 1958 and 1968. Also a member of Hollsopple Post 8861, VFW; Somerset County PSEA, Retired; NEA; and Allied Artists of Johnstown. Walter was a volunteer art instructor at Laurel View Village and was an avid golfer. Devoted husband, loving father, good friend, committed teacher, gifted artist and lifelong student of art. Donations in Walter’s memory may be given to the Allied Artists of Johnstown Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1547, Johnstown, Pa. 15907 or Jerome Volunteer Fire Company, Box 425, Jerome, Pa. 15937.
'First Light' by Walter Kososki
