Lisa Ecklund-Flores wrote to say that Tom Goodkind, whom I knew as the conductor of the TriBattery Pops, but who had just a genius life as a musician and as someone who helped give this neighborhood its character and soul, has died. The news was sent to her from Tom’s wife, Jill; the Broadsheet has a lovely obit with reflections from neighbors.

I did not know Tom as so many here did, but for me his band was the soundtrack we marched to for at least a dozen little league opening days. And it was his krewe that led a raucous celebration through the streets of the neighborhood in a New Orleans-style funeral procession during the memorial for Susan Duncan, the longtime art director at Church Street.

He had a sparkle.

“He was a very smart and passionate man,” Lisa said. “One of the things he cared about a lot was music — both learning and playing it — and he was always an amazing supporter of Church Street School. I’m really sad to lose him.”

He was also on CB1 for decades and in the ‘80s he was the lead singer and songwriter for a popular band called The Washington Squares. (You’ll know it when you hear it!)

The TriBattery Pops was an all-volunteer band, and they were everywhere – Taste of Tribeca, Taste of Battery Park City, DLL opening day, the 9/11 Memorial Run, the Tunnel to Tower Run. And they had a great sense of humor that came directly from Tom. Their last album (they recorded 16) gives you a taste of it: Lost 20 Pounds in 20 Days: They will just melt off you as you boogie down to our disco tunes. Don’t run! Just hustle on over to listen to our new album.

There will be a service on Sunday, March 3, at noon at Green-Wood Cemetery’s Modern Chapel in Brooklyn. After the burial there will be a reception at the Goodkind family’s home in Battery Park City, where the family will be sitting shiva Sunday and Monday. Down the road, the family said they will plan a memorial concert to celebrate Tom’s life.