Two Who Remembered...

   Ernie Backus and Bill Goggin never met each other, but they had something in common.

   A native of Quedlingburg, Germany, Ernie Backhaus learned the value of hard work as his family grew 90 percent of its food. He worked 12 hours a day. As a young ironworker, Ernie fled Nazi Germany in 1923 and settled in the United States. His skills, hard work, and positive attitude led to many job promotions. He lived on the East Coast until he moved to San Diego in 1935 where he worked for Convair until his retirement. In retirement, he became the custodian for Sacred Heart Parish in Ocean Beach, where for 22 years he labored with joy and love. His positive attitude was infectious. After his wife’s death, Ernie dedicated himself to his work at Sacred Heart Parish. In addition to his work in maintenance, he was an usher, choir director, and goodwill ambassador. When asked for the secret of his longevity, Ernie said: “I eat the right things. I never worry. I never stay around negative
speaking people.”

   Born in Massachusetts, Bill Goggin was an Air Force veteran. He achieved success as a purchasing agent in the Air Force and, after his discharge, in business. His struggles began with waist-down paralysis from a botched operation to correct a circulation disorder. As a resident in St. Vincent de Paul Village, he prospered in the sobriety and the security of the Village; however the last years of his life were marked by persistent medical and mental problems.

   We are honored that both Ernie and Bill did careful estate planning and both of them remembered the work of Father Joe’s Villages in their Wills. They were two men who lived very different lives. When I think of Ernie and Bill, I speculate that, if they had met, Ernie’s tremendous positive attitude might have helped a brooding Bill.

Michael Wall
Director of Planned Giving