Irving E. Goldman

Horseman Irving E. Goldman of Franklin, Mich., died on Aug. 13. He was 90.

Mr. Goldman was born on April 30, 1923, to Harry and Bertha Goldman in Detroit.

He attended Michigan State University but was called to serve in World War II during his sophomore year. He served in the U.S. Army Infantry and saw combat in Europe.

Upon returning home, Mr. Goldman joined his brother and father in operating Grant Southern Iron and Metal Co., one of the largest scrap metal processing companies in the United States, and he continued there for 40 years.

Mr. Goldman was an accomplished equestrian, acquiring a passion for horses during his time in the military.

Before the advent of the amateur hunter divisions, he showed in the open hunter and jumper divisions in Michigan during the 1950s and ’60s on horses such as Charisma, Verity, Palindrome and Southern Exposure.

During the 1990s, Mr. Goldman was instrumental in managing the Detroit Motor City Horse Show, bringing it back to its roots and providing financial stability.

He was also a member of the Bloomfield Open Hunt (Mich.) and the Metamora Hunt Club (Mich.).

In recent years, Mr. Goldman bought a farm near Oxford, Mich., that he named Old Gold Farm. He traveled to Wellington, Fla., during the winter where he continued to show in the amateur-owner hunter division into his late 80s.

Throughout his riding career, Mr. Goldman trained with Johnny Wallace, Zander Duffield, Ken and Emily Smith, and most recently, Heather Irvine.

“He was a natural,” said Irvine. “He rode his whole life. He was always right in there doing [it]. Horse showing was his life; he loved it.”

After Mr. Goldman stopped showing, he remained involved in the horse show world as an owner and enthusiast and could be seen at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (Fla.) hacking his horse Santana through the show grounds. “You can ask anybody at a horse show, and they know Irv,” said Irvine. “He was always there cheering for his friends. He loved a good horse, and he loved to watch. He never gave up.”

A Humanist Jew, Mr. Goldman was actively involved in his community, a philanthropist, and a devoted family man.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Doris Rothberg Goldman of Franklin; his brother, Marvin Goldman, of Franklin; his daughters, Carol Klein and her husband, Mitchell, of Franklin and Meg Kasdan and her husband, Lawrence, of Los Angeles; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Orchards Children’s Services, 30215 Southfield Road, Southfield, MI 48076 or The Gabriella Foundation, 639 S. Commonwealth Avenue, Ste. B, Los Angeles, CA 90005.