Tribute Speech - For Gerard Gooden
To be Read at the Wake: 28th August 2026

Today I want to share something about Gerard Gooden—because he is not just someone I knew; he has been an important part of my life.
I have known Gerard for 44 years. I remember clearly the day we met. At the time I was involved with Self Transformations, providing personal development courses. Gerard was attending a weekend workshop, and for some reason I was assigned to him as his mentor and guide during the course. From that day, we became friends. Perhaps in a small way I was able to help Gerard then—but ever since that day, Gerard has been my mentor and guide.
He truly is an amazing man: complex, brilliant, and selfless. He had a calling about doing good in this world. He used his legal skills to assist those in need and to protect them as best he could—always caring rather than trying to personally benefit from his clients. In some ways, that was also his failing; he worked so hard, seven days a week. The law was his life and his clients were his flock.
Gerard has helped me so many times over the years, and he was always there for me and for my family.
We would talk about everything. Even over the last four years—since I have been living overseas—we spoke on the phone weekly. Those calls were important to me. He would laugh at my “great jokes,” and at times we would cry, but the conversations were always meaningful.
Sometimes Gerard would say things about me that I didn’t always like in the moment—but I always knew I needed to hear them. I could feel that his words came from his heart with good intent for me. It was a rare and precious experience to have a friend with so much depth and understanding.
Gerard, thank you for all you have done for me and my family.
You are my hero. I love you, and I will miss you so much.
Hans Felden