Saratoga Springs, NY - Jessica Wolf Goldin, born on September 25, 1918, in New York City, died peacefully at home in Saratoga on April 2, 2016.  Daughter of Jenny and Jacob Wolf, Jessica was the youngest of eight children, five of whom survived into adulthood. Her father, Jacob, died when she was five.  To support the family, her  mother worked as a seamstress and traveled  to the garment district to buy dresses for resale in her neighborhood.  Jessica earned scholarships that propelled her to Long Island University for her BA, Columbia University for an MA in Spanish Language, and Middlebury for summer language study. Later, she earned a Fulbright to Burgos, Spain.

In 1942, she married Abraham Goldin, whom she met while they were both teaching evening classes at Queens College: he biology and she English.  During Abraham's army posting in San Antonio, Jessica taught English as a second language to children.  She went on to teach Spanish at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, Maryland and later to serve as tenured Associate Professor of Language and Foreign Studies at American University.  She was a passionate teacher of Spanish language who also devoted herself to teaching and mentoring student teachers.  Jessica started the Projecto Amistad program at American University, a groundbreaking community internship program that has continued until the present.  In 1969, American University recognized her as the outstanding woman faculty member of the year. The center of Jessica's  life was her marriage to Abraham Goldin, a pioneer of cancer chemotherapy who dedicated himself to cancer research at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda.  Jessica traveled widely with him as he collaborated with scientists in Japan, Cuba, Russia, Italy, Czechoslovakia, and elsewhere .

Jessica is survived by two daughters, Laura Goldin of Acton, Massachusetts and Deborah Meyers (Roy) of Saratoga Springs, NY; three grandchildren, Katy Anna Goldin, Yael Lisa Meyers and Sarah Meyers Brent(Benjamin); and  two great grandchildren, Abraham and Eli Brent; as well as a close extended family. Her family was her greatest joy.  The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to Jessica's devoted Saratoga caregivers, who allowed her to continue to experience joy and adventure in her last years and who eased her final days. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 5, at 2p.m. at the William J. Burke and Sons/ Bussing and Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs 584-5373. Donations may be may be made in Jessica's memory to Temple Sinai, 509 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866; Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or a charity of your choice.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com