As a fairly new resident in the community, it was very disheartening to read the recent article in the Chilkat Valley News about Phil Goldberg’s passing. I felt that Tom Morphet went out of his way to smear mud on this individual. In a world where there is so much ugliness, we should all do our part to spread the love and bring happiness into the lives of others. I was always taught that when someone passes, you should try and find the good in that person and not focus on the worst.
I was sad that Morphet made sure everyone knew Mr. Goldberg was a fraud and told stories about things he did for a living. It certainly doesn’t seem normal to publish convictions and court records when someone passes away. As long as he wasn’t harming anyone, let the man pretend to be whatever he wants to be. I did not know this man, but now that he’s gone, all I will ever know was his criminal record and who he pretended to be.
The CVN had an opportunity to tell the story of the man we never knew. His surviving sisters and only son may have had a loving memory or two that may have been inspirational to read about. Hopefully, Goldberg’s family won’t read Morphet’s article, and think our entire community is as unloving and uncharitable.
Nathanael Motes