Remembering Christine Goodale

Goodale’s influence extended well beyond her classroom. She introduced the tradition of Senior Gifts, in which Advanced Drawing students contributed a work to the school’s permanent collection—pieces that still hang across campus as daily reminders of her impact. She also brought visiting artists to Kingswood, curated exhibitions, coordinated the school’s involvement in the Scholastic Art Awards, and built strong connections with colleagues at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, and getting students involved in docent programs across campus.

 

Her work on Gallimaufry left a particularly lasting mark. Christine guided students in the selection, design, and production of the annual magazine, an annual showcase of the best student writing and visual art. She took great care in teaching the editorial staff how to evaluate both words and images with discernment, giving them a voice in shaping a publication that reflected their peers’ creativity. Under her leadership, the process became an education in itself—an apprenticeship in artistic judgment, collaboration, and craftsmanship. Issues of Gallimaufry that benefited from her touch would regularly claim numerous national awards.  That recognition continues today, and Christine’s foundational role in establishing the magazine’s high standards remains one of her enduring contributions to Cranbrook’s culture.

 

Her expectations as a teacher were high, but her warmth, candor, and deep knowledge gave students the inspiration to meet them. Those who studied with her remember hours spent laboring over ambitious drawings, followed by critiques that were both exacting and encouraging. She guided many young artists toward top art schools, offering honest assessments and unwavering support of their portfolios and applications.

 

Goodale’s own path to art began after an early interest in chemistry. She studied at Syracuse University and earned her MFA in printmaking at Northern Illinois University, training under Ben Mahmoud. Her prints were exhibited widely, including at the Brooklyn Museum and the Detroit Institute of Arts.

 

Her life at Cranbrook was deeply intertwined with her husband, Jeffrey Welch, a longtime administrator and member of the English faculty. Together they shared decades of teaching and community life on campus, immersed in the beauty and energy of the Schools.

 

After retiring in 2012, Goodale remained closely connected to friends and former colleagues, including fellow teacher and creative partner Jessica Sinclair. For her students and peers, she will be remembered not only as an accomplished artist and dedicated teacher, but as someone whose belief in the value of art—and in the talents of young people—helped define the Cranbrook experience for nearly four decades.

 

We thank you for keeping Jeffrey Welch and Christine’s family in your thoughts at this time. If you wish to share memories or condolences, please email alumni@cranbrook.edu and we will pass them along. We will be remembering Christine at Reunion 2026, June 5-7.

If you wish to make a gift in Christine's memory, you may do so by clicking here.