Raymond Lawrence Goodman

Raymond “Ray” Lawrence Goodman 

September 1, 1942 – August 31, 2026 

Ray Goodman, 83, of Orlando, Florida passed away peacefully on August 31, 2026. Born in Porterville, California, to LeRoy and Dawn Goodman, Ray grew up in northern California where his lifelong love of fly-fishing and birding began. He earned his A.A. from Santa Rosa College in 1970 and his B.A. from California State University in 1972. He moved to Florida in 1973 to pursue his love of fishing and attend law school. He graduated with high honors from Florida State University College of Law in 1977 and soon after founded his own practice specializing in private criminal defense and family law. 

In 1986, as the appellate counsel in the 1986 Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal case Kinzler vs. Kinzler, he successfully challenged the trial court’s overreach and struck down the automatic modification provision securing the binding, legal precedent that trial courts cannot mandate automatic, speculative future increases in alimony without clear, immediate proof the change Is justified now. Ray practiced until his retirement in 2010 to focus on fishing, birding and smoking cigars. He was a smart, funny, aggravating and charming man, and a true believer. 

He is survived by his third and final wife, Saidia Kane, his stepdaughter Paula Horne and her two sons, Nick and Benny. At his request, no memorial service will be held. When you miss him, think of your silliest, funniest moments together. He would’ve wanted that.