Matilda Goddard, Namesake and Founding Board MembeGoddard House History
Founded in 1849, Goddard House is the oldest elder care organization in Massachusetts, and the third oldest in America; named for Matilda Goddard who was a remarkable woman ahead of her time. Born in Cambridge, MA to a wealthy family of carriage makers, she was bright and industrious. At the encouragement of her father, Matilda started her own vest making business in the early 1800’s and gave away most of the proceeds to charity.
Our Mission
A not-for-profit organization since our founding, Goddard House owns and operates Goddard House Assisted Living at 165 Chestnut Street, Brookline, MA 02445. We have seventy-five traditional apartments and forty apartments in our Olmsted Place program for those who require specialized memory support services in a secured setting.
Goddard House offers older adults comfortable housing in a residential setting and the kindness and compassion that inspired its founding over a century ago. Our daily commitment is to provide an atmosphere that emphasizes dignity, self-reliance and a warm sense of community, evident to all who walk through our doors.
As part of our not-for-profit mission, we provide rent subsidies to a number of residents with lower income. And we find a way to keep all other residents, if they can pay market rates for three years.
We see it as part of our mission to offer our residents special programs in music, art and other expressive therapies, started with grants. Goddard House has a small fitness studio with a personal trainer, and offer an array of fitness classes. We partner with a number of institutions of higher learning in the Boston area to give their students internships to enrich these programs. Concerts and lectures are held regularly at Goddard House. We take our residents to museums and the theater, and even to Red Sox games.
Another important part of our mission is to provide scholarships to our staff, so they can further their training. A well-trained, dedicated staff provides better care to our residents.
Finally, we view it our duty to be an active member of our community. Goddard House promotes collaboration and affiliation with senior advocates, agencies and caregivers to improve the quality of life for older adults within the larger community.
John Moniz, Executive Director
Goddard House Leadership
Meet New Goddard House Executive Director, John Moniz
We are pleased to introduce our new Executive Director, John Moniz, who comes to us from an impressive background working with seniors.He started his career in elder services as a certified nursing assistant and worked for Atria Senior Living in the financial services area. After serving as the National Compliance Manager for Atria he decided to make the move into Nursing Home Administration. John became Executive Director for Cadbury Commons Independent and Assisted Living in Cambridge, MA, where he held the position since 2008.
A volunteer board of trustees governs Goddard House.
President: Elizabeth Molodovsky
Treasurer: Lucy Boyle
Assistant Treasurer: Emily Brower
Clerk: Julia D. Cox
Assistant Clerk: Harriet Tolpin
Ivor Cary Armistead III
Rev. Mark J.T. Caggiano
Noreen Guanci
Edward Lowenstein, MD
Harry S. Margolis
James Mnookin
Laurie Pascal
Alexandra Schweitzer
