'His life's mission': Former Tel Aviv city engineer, architect Israel Goodovitch, dies at 92

Israel Goodovitch, a distinguished architect and former Tel Aviv city engineer, passed away on Friday at the age of 92. Goodovitch was a significant figure in Israel's planning and construction landscape, recognized for his direct communication style and a history of professional disagreements with the planning establishment.

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My father, before he was a father, was first and foremost an architect. It was not a workplace or a profession; it was his life’s mission.

His son, Dekel, also an architect, memorialized his father, emphasizing Goodovitch's profound dedication to his profession, describing it not merely as a job but as a "life's mission." Dekel highlighted his father's belief that architecture was "sacred work for all of society," aimed at creating better and more exceptional places that transcended the drawing board and bureaucratic limitations.

Goodovitch's approach was all-encompassing, often defying conventional norms. His son noted that Goodovitch operated "above the law" – the law of gravity, building codes, and social conventions – allowing him to "soar to heights" and break free from technical and bureaucratic constraints. His passing marks the end of his earthly struggles, allowing him to reunite with loved ones.

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His architecture was sacred work for all of society, with the goal of building for it a better place, a more special place, one that went beyond the drafting paper, past all boundaries.

Born in Haifa in 1934, Goodovitch studied at Tichon Hadash Tel Aviv and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, later earning a master's degree from the University of Tokyo. His international portfolio includes designs for two stadiums in South Africa, a sports hall in Tzemach, and the Jewish community center and Great Synagogue in Moscow. In Israel, he was responsible for projects like the Aviv Towers in Tel Aviv and master plans for areas including Katzrin and the Bedouin sector. He also served as the Housing Ministry's rural planning official in the Negev from 1967 to 1975, designing notable structures like the Hazeva Field School. Goodovitch also briefly appeared on the reality show "Big Brother" in 2015.

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Dad was always above the law. The law of gravity, building laws, and social norms. He soared to heights, freed himself from technical and bureaucratic limitations, and flew to the great sun. Now that he is truly in the heavens, he can finally rest a little from struggles and reunite with all those he loved and did everything for.