Myra A Rodrigues
Myra Rodrigues Obituary
Myra Aileen Rodrigues graced us with her life on May 20, 1935, at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA. Born Myra Goodridge to the late Esma and Goldburn Goodridge, she attended elementary and middle school in Cambridge during her formative years. As a young girl, she frequently attended First Holiness Church and was a St. Paul AME Girl Scout. She then entered Somerville High School when her family later moved to Somerville, MA. Myra was the oldest of 7 siblings and often found herself helping her mother prepare food for dinner, among other tasks. Voted most likely to succeed, Myra graduated from high school in 1953. This would only foreshadow more success and accolades to come.
Myra was a top performing academic student. Every year, a male and female Senior was awarded a college scholarship. Despite graduating top of her class, this scholarship was given to a White male and female classmate. Navigating the hurt and disappointment of racism, her mother always said, “God would make a way.” She then received sponsorship from a family friend each semester that helped get her through school. She later graduated from Boston University’s College of Liberal Arts with a B.A. in Engineering in 1957. While in college, Myra also met the love of her life, the late James John Rodrigues, and married in October 1957 shortly after graduating.
Myra loved math and secured her first job at Raytheon as an Engineering Assistant from 1957 – 1959 where she “worked the line.” She was not a fan. After moving to Springfield, MA with her husband, she then secured a position as a Junior Engineer at United Aircraft Research Laboratory in Connecticut from 1959 – 1960. Quickly, Myra realized she didn’t enjoy engineering. While encountering limited opportunity due to racism at the precipice of the 1960s, she sought employment elsewhere.
During this time, Myra gave birth to a precious baby girl, Juanita Ann Rodrigues, in 1961. To help support her family, she realized she needed to find employment soon and saw an advertisement for a position at the Welfare Department of Springfield. Despite being uncertain she could obtain a job in social work without formal training, her future supervisor encouraged her to apply as it wasn’t needed for that position. She was hired. Myra worked as a Social Worker for the Springfield Welfare Department from 1962-1968. While there, she learned of a program in Springfield where they would fund completion of a master’s in social work. At that time, most social workers were White and a lot of Black social workers were hired to increase diversity. A few years after the birth of her daughter, she entered the University of Connecticut to pursue a master’s in social work and graduated in 1966.
While balancing raising her daughter and pursuing her career, Myra and her family moved back to the Metro Boston area. She obtained a position as a Social Worker at Roxbury Children’s Services from 1970 – 1971. Don Palmer, a friend and colleague of Myra’s, saw her talent and shared an opening at MIT for a social worker in their Mental Health Department. Don thought she would be perfect; Myra applied and the rest was history. Myra served as a Social Worker in their renamed psychiatric department for 25 years, and later started her own private practice after retirement.
While at MIT, Myra also found enjoyment in education as an adjunct professor at Simmons
College Graduate School of Social Work and at the Boston College (BC) Graduate School of Social Work for 4 years. During this time, Myra taught a course on racism at BC. This was where her formal commitment to social justice began. Due to her outspoken nature when seeing injustice, Myra found herself serving as a model for advocacy. This earned her the Martin Luther King, Jr. leadership award while at MIT. Additionally, Myra served as an Independent
Investigator for 51A cases at the Boston Juvenile Court and West Newton Court in the late 1980s.
As if this professional experience wasn’t impressive enough, Myra also served on multiple boards of directors—organizations included the Cambridge Port Problem Center at the Y.W.C.A,
Roxbury Children’s Services’ United Homes for Children, and Cambridge Family and Children’s
Services. Myra also served on the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women under
Governor Edward King from 1980 – 1981. It was also during this time that Myra decided a Master’s degree wasn’t enough and enrolled at Boston College to pursue a PhD from the School of Social Work. She completed all of her course work and transitioned from that program ABD (all but dissertation) due to illness. It was during her time in this doctoral program that she receive another baby girl to love and welcomed her granddaughter, Myisha Renee Rodrigues, in 1982 who would later follow in her footsteps.
Myra’s love for healing and nurturing spanned many years—formally and informally. While attending St. Paul AME as an adult member, she was instrumental in starting the counseling ministry that consisted of licensed practitioners. Myra also led classes on parenting and classes for Seniors. Myra found pride in identifying as a Black, Christian Social Worker and often fused spirituality into her clinical practice. While there was a large commitment to professional development, Myra had a passion for singing and was an amazing soprano vocalist. She studied at the Longy School of Music, sang with Chancel Choir at St. Paul AME, and sang with a specially selected mass choir at Symphony Hall. Myra was also instrumental in raising money for St. Paul’s Inspirational Choir to tour Bermuda where they sang at various churches on the island.
Myra was known for hosting large gatherings for Thanksgiving, sharing anything she had with those she loved, singing around her home, and a soprano laugh so infectious it filled a room. After fulfilling her calling and purpose on this earth, Myra entered eternal rest on Saturday, April 6, 2024. To carry on her legacy of generosity, commitment to family and education, and spirituality, Myra leaves her daughter Juanita Rodrigues and granddaughter Myisha Rodrigues; siblings Goldburn Goodridge. Jr., Lucille Goodridge, Phyllis Goodridge, Robert Goodridge, Arthur Goodridge and his wife Barbra Goodridge; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, additional family, and friends.
Code 862877
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