Val Goodfellow, a chemist and founder of Califia Bio, passed away on July 30 in Logan, Utah, according to a report published August 25. Goodfellow was 68 years old.
Born in 1958 in Bountiful, Utah, to Don and Joyce Goodfellow, he attended Bountiful High School before attending Utah State University. While a student at Utah State, he met his wife, Paula Jensen. Goodfellow later earned a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Michigan.
Goodfellow established a career in medicinal drug discovery, working for companies including Bristol Myers Squibb and eventually founding his own company, Califia Bio. He traveled extensively for work and leisure, visiting countries such as Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, Italy, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Japan. His time serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Norway sparked a lifelong interest in the country and its culture.
An avid outdoorsman, Goodfellow enjoyed paddle sports, including canoeing and kayak surfing. He also enjoyed fishing, hiking the Grand Canyon, and woodworking, specifically crafting bows. He was also a musician who played the lead guitar, mandolin, banjo, and piano.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Paula; his sons, Isaac and Ian; his grandsons, Dante and Marco; his sister, Suzanne; and his cat, Sven. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A private memorial for friends and family will be held in the future. Memorial donations can be directed to the Bear River Land Conservancy to preserve rivers and lakes.
