Paula Gould, 76, Dies After Battle with Alzheimer’s Disease

Paula Estelle Benovitz Gould, wife of former long-time Lakeland High School Principal Brian Gould, died peacefully Dec. 29 following an 8-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 76.

Gould died at her home in Juno Beach, Florida. She was born Oct. 17, 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee to Emanuel and Eleanor (Alkon) Benovitz, who preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband of nearly 57 years, Brian, her sons Martin (Stephanie), Ft. Lauderdale, FL; and Elliot (Melissa) of Sandown, NH, and four grandchildren: Justin, New York, NY; Jackson, Columbus, OH; Brandon, Santa Rosa Beach, FL; and Skylar, Athens, OH.

Upon graduating high school in 1955, Gould enrolled at Colorado University in Boulder, where she met her future husband, Brian. They were married Dec. 31, 1956 and relocated to Mt. Vernon where she gave birth to her first son, Martin, the following September. Her second son, Elliot, was born in 1960.

The family moved to Mohegan Lake in 1961 when her husband was offered a teaching position in the Lakeland School District. In the summer, they both worked as counselors at Camp Nabby day camp in Mohegan Lake.

Gould worked as a receptionist at the Peekskill Animal Hospital before going back to school in 1973 to earn her degree and certification as an x-ray technologist from the Port Chester Medical Center. She worked for several radiology practices in New York City and Westchester County, where she occasionally met, and took x-rays of, famous patients, including the golfer, Sam Snead and Happy Rockefeller, wife of the former Governor of New York and her husband, Vice President,  Nelson Rockefeller. 

From 1980 to 1995, her unofficial job title was “First Lady of Lakeland High School,” as she accompanied her husband at hundreds of school events and activities. From football games and school musicals, to proms and graduations, she was a constant presence and school “mom” to the thousands of students who attended Lakeland over those years.

Upon her husband's retirement in 1995, the couple relocated to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where they enjoyed a quiet life of croquet, fishing and entertaining friends and family, including many get-togethers with fellow Lakeland faculty and administrators.

There will be no funeral services.

Condolences can be expressed at www.facebook.com/brianpaulagould. Donations in her memory can be made to any local Alzheimer’s organization.