Family is Jill’s story. They are her inspiration, her joy, her idols and her divine blessed gifts from God. Learn more about her family by clicking the tabs below.
Ruben is Jill’s “only son.” He has distinguished himself as a son, a father, a husband and a person who contributes to the lives of those around him in a magical way. He has always been an outstanding athlete in every level of school: Male Athlete of the Year, Captain of the USC basketball team, and outstanding student at every level of education. He has been very successful in his business as Vice President at Jones Lang LaSalle.
In the past, he coached his son Jordan’s and his daughter Abbey’s All-Net basketball teams. He was also the Chapter Director of Yorba Linda’s basketball program, and is raising the level of excellence and exposure in the community. All of his life, he worked well with parents and students to help them prepare for the next level, and also to learn that every day is a day to improve. He was tireless in his devotion as a brother to his sister, Jillie, and inspired her as they walked through the levels of autism, severe brain damage, profound retardation and Grand Mal seizures. He is an incredible man to know.
Ruben is married to a magnificent lady Karen with 3 beautiful and wonderful children – Thomas, Isabella and Ben.
Jill Joanne Goodsell, Jr. – “Jillie” – was born September 12, 1966 and died October 13, 1996. I am sharing with you a little about who she was, what she accomplished and the people she touched in her family, her community and in the world. Because of Jillie, we involved everyone in our world and everything that we did, from my teaching, lecturing, my Studio, my performing, Special Olympics, my son’s basketball games – both in High School and in college at USC – everybody was involved with Jillie. Jillie was the training. Jillie was everywhere. Jillie was able to participate in everything. She sat at the right hand of her mother and brother, wherever we were, and so she got to make a difference in the world by her very presence. People met Jillie and, through us, they got to know her. They saw that we treasured and honored her, and we went through whatever we had to go through to give her the quality of life she so richly deserved.
Jillie was severely brain-damaged, profoundly retarded, autistic and had Grand Mal seizures. I considered it my greatest honor to be the mother of my son, Ruben, and Jillie. I hope that her spirit and our example of loving and honoring her in the ways that we did, will be an example and inspiration to others. Her journey from not walking, to walking and speaking a little, and even having a little job at the end of her life, will certainly be a tangible reason for you to see the abundance of good that all of us do by helping each other in all areas of life.
Jordan Taylor Goodsell and Abbey Jeanne Goodsell are Grandma Jill’s grandchildren. They both are incredibly fine athletes, magnificent singers and pianists, and are outstanding students in their academics in school. The have been brought up in the theater, watching and learning, as well as performing. They have studied piano, voice and theater with their teacher, Grandma Jill Goodsell their whole lives.
Jordan has graduate from Chapman University and has distinguished himself the day he walked out of college with performance after performance, including “Les Miserables”, “Man of La Mancha”, “Hairspray”, his own personal cabarets, “Beauty and the Beast”, Guest Starring on TV and is featured at the Hyperion Theater in Disney’s “Frozen”.
Now my Magnificent Amazing Grandson with all his heart, soul, mind, voice, magnificent work ethic everything, he is in New York! He is beginning the next phase of his journey into his Divine Design. After arriving, his first performance was a new production called “Invisible: The Sci-fi Musical Comedy in Concert” at Feinstein’s 54 Below. And he has recently completed his first Off Broadway Show in New York called “Juliet and her Romeo” in the role of Paris. Visit his website for updates and to see what he is currently working on.
Jordan Taylor Goodsell and Abbey Jeanne Goodsell are Grandma Jill’s grandchildren. They both are incredibly fine athletes, magnificent singers and pianists, and are outstanding students in their academics in school. The have been brought up in the theater, watching and learning, as well as performing. They have studied piano, voice and theater with their teacher, Grandma Jill Goodsell their whole lives.
After graduating from Orange Lutheran High School, Abbey went to Long Beach City College and distinguished herself and was honored at the Long Beach Century Club Annual Sports Night Banquet, as Female Athlete of the Year in Basketball. From there Abbey received a complete scholarship in basketball to Sacramento State University where she distinguished herself as again an outstanding athlete and academic. Then finished her bachelors degree at Azuza Pacific University again with basketball and high academic scholarship. She then was selected to play professional basketball for the Irish team in Ireland where she was also doing her masters work at the University of Limerick Ireland.
She is now the Assistant Basketball Coach at Columbus State University Georgia.