Tom Goodro

Hello Tigers,

After graduating from SPHS I moved to Palm Springs, Ca to help a friend manage his parents hotel. Running the hotel was a blast, between going to school during the day and having fun at Zelda's Disco, dancing the night away, it was quite exciting.

In 1978 I accepted a postion as a Lab Technician at Desert Hospital in Palm Springs, Ca and spent the next 12 years working in various hospital laboratory settings, mostly in San Diego County.

While in San Diego I was able to continue my passion for surfing and took advantage of the breaks off Encinitas and Leucadia.

In 1992 I left San Diego and moved to Joshua Tree, Ca and enjoyed the next 10 years stargazing and enjoing the beauty of the high desert, 30 miles from Palm Springs. While living in the desert I pursued a healthcare career which included developing and operating an FDA and academics outcomes clinical research division for Desert Medical Group, Inc., in Palm Springs, Ca.

In 2003 after spending most of my adult life in pursuit of losing and finding myself through self destructive activities, the Lord Jesus Christ entered my life.

I was finally able to put away the toys of my youth and start serving the needs of others.

I'm now married to a wonderful Christian woman from Pakistan. Naila has been a true blessing in my life and has been instrumental in helping me gain a better understanding of my purpose on earth.

In 2006 we moved to San Antonio, Texas, to start a healthcare consulting practice. Shortly after we arrived Naila was diagnosed with breast cancer. One month later I was baptized into the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Our church family stood by us during Naila's treatment and while we suffered many losses, this was an incredible time of spiritual growth.

I know there is absolutley nothing life can throw at us that can't be overcome with the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Naila has since recovered from her cancer treatment. While Naila was recovering she spent the time studying for her clinical license as a professional counselor. She is now licensed and all but dissertation for her Doctorate in Psychology.

In March of 2011 my wife was rediagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and continues to fight the good fight. In Jan 2013 we sold our home in San Antonio and moved back to So Cal.

In 2014 we moved to Pheonix Arizona to continue Naila's cancer treatment at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. We now reside in a Del Webb community in Buckeye Arizona.
Still in Buckeye in 2017, thinking of moving to Puerto Escondido or Chaing Mai, sooner than later. Update 10/6/2018, my wife passed away in Dec 2017 and I now live at the beach in Oceanside, Ca. Planning a 3 month surf trip to Sayulita, Mexico in Dec.
I pray for continued good health for you and your families,

Update: It’s been 8 years since my wife passed away. At that time I grounded in Sedona, Az and spent 2 months hanging out surfing in Encinitas, Ca at the same breaks we surfed in high school. I moved to North Carolina, met and married a wonderful woman from Mumbai , India. We spend time gardening, playing with our 2 dogs and 2 cats. We sit most times by our koi pond and Jeckyll Island, Ga.

I’ve learned to be grateful and happy to exist intentionally,
In Christ,

Tom

I enjoyed my time at SPHS very much and wish I could turn back time. Enjoying those sunny, lazy lunch times, spent with good friends while sitting on the girls gym field. This time was spent mostly talking about the next surfing trip, weekend party or concert.

Although not directly related to school, one story that stands out in my mind while in high school was the time I was on the Old Virginia Little League baseball team and we were practicing after school at the ball fields at the Arroyo Seco Park. During this practice I somehow got the team involved in a potential gang fight because I refused to throw a baseball back to some gang members playing on the opposite field. I still remember the confrontation and believe the only reason we did not get jumped was due to the fact we had more manpower and more baseball bats.