Miriam Piwoz Goodman, a surfer for 30 years who helped carve out a place for women in the surfing community, died of complications from uterine fibroids on Sept. 20. She was 45, and 22 weeks pregnant.
Goodman was born July 28, 1957 in Philadelphia and moved to San Diego when she was 16. Recently she lived in Calabasas. She graduated from UCSD and later earned a law degree at Hastings College of the Law.
Surfing was her greatest passion, second only to motherhood. Goodman began her surfing career in her midteens. She worked with the Surfrider Foundation and was a member of the Malibu Surfing Association. In the past year she won two surfing competitions, the Arden Taylor competition and a Malibu Surfing Association inner-club competition.
Goodman had a strong spiritual life as well, and was both a practicing Buddhist and involved in the Jewish community.
The surfing community honored Goodman with two memorial “paddle-outs” at Surfrider Beach. A funeral service took place as well, on Sept. 24. Goodman will also be honored at the next Arden Taylor competition-proceeds from which will be donated to her son Michael, 14.
Goodman is also survived by her fianc, Rick Solomon, her parents, Seymour and Sandra Piwoz, and her three sisters Nina, Ellen and Julia. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Surfrider Foundation, PO Box 953, Malibu, CA 90265.