Elaine (Goodman) Alper
OBITUARY
Elaine (Goodman) Alper, 88, formerly of Scranton, died Wednesday, April 8th, at the Pearl of Downers Grove Nursing Home in Illinois. She was preceded in death by her ex-husband Les Alper.
Born January 21, 1938 in Scranton to the late Morris and Bessie Weinberg Goodman. Elaine was the last of her family, sister Anita and brothers Alvin and Joseph. She was a graduate of Central High School Class of 1955, and went on to Penn State University, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in 1959, marrying Les that same year. She pursued her higher education at Penn State where she obtained a Master’s degree with a dual major in education and speech pathology and a minor in psychology in 1963.
Elaine worked as a speech pathologist for three years in Westminster, MD before moving to Kansas City, MO, where her husband worked for the JVS. In 1972, the family moved to Oak Park, IL so Les could take a job as a counseling psychologist with the VA. Elaine worked for a few years in the suburbs, but ultimately settled on working in the inner-city Chicago public school system, as she said she wanted to work with children who were being the least served. Her 42-year career concluded when she retired in 2000.
Elaine is survived by son Blair and daughter Michelle.
A graveside service will be held Friday at 11:30 a.m. in the Dalton Jewish Cemetery by Rabbi Daniel Swartz.
There is no local shiva.
Arrangements, Carlucci-Golden-DeSantis Funeral Home, Inc., Dunmore.
Elaine (Goodman) Alper
April 8, 2026