Stan Goldberg is a Professor of Communicative Disorders at San Francisco State University with a Ph.D. in Speech Pathology, a M.A. in Political Theory and a B.A. in Philosophy. For over 25 years he taught, treated children, researched and published in the area of learning problems and change.

Dr. Goldberg has published four technical books, written numerous articles and delivered over 100 lectures and workshops throughout the United States, Latin America and Asia. He has taught over 10,000 people how to help children learn and has treated over 1,000 children directly, or while supervising his graduate students. His work on learning and change has been funded through 12 grants, including one from the United States Office of Education.

Dr. Goldberg has a private practice, with clients ranging in age from two to 75. He specializes in the treatment of speech, language, and learning problems.

He serves at the bedside of the dying as a volunteer at the Zen Hospice Project and as a volunteer home hospice caregiver.

Prolifically published, he has received numerous writing awards, representing poetry, essays, short stories and humor. His latest book, Ready to Learn: How to Help Your Preschooler Succeed will be available in January of 2005 from Oxford University Press, and has been hailed as one of the most innovative books for parents of pre-school children.

The care provided for the dying is neither altruistic nor depressing. It is one of the most enlightening and life-changing events one can experience. Lessons for living are given just by being compassionate and present. This essay relates an experience the author had with a woman in hospice who struggled with letting go of life. Rather than dying and ending her suffering, she waited until her mother was prepared to accept life without her.

The experience the author had with this woman and the others he has served led him to have a greater understanding of life. As one approaches death, there are few superfluous agendas. Being continually involved in the experience of dying, is the greatest teacher one can have for living. All you have to do is listen.

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