 Goodman was born and raised in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , where his father , George , was a printer and real estate agent . His mother , Ella , died of typhoid fever in early 1895 when Goodman was just three years old . He attended Central High School , graduating in 1909 . He enjoyed writing and began keeping a detailed journal of daily activities during his senior year of high school , expressing his aspirations for the future along with occasional doubts . With several classmates , he began a literary club and published a newsletter , The <unk> . He also showed interest in music , playing the piano and violin , and composed a song for his high school senior class . When it was not selected by the class officers , he wrote in his journal of his disappointment . 
