Everyone loved Judy.
Today I was in Memoir class, sitting next to a man named Michael, and he recalled being in “Our Town” with Judy. He remarked what a wonderfully comedic actress she was. He had no idea what had happened to her and was quite shocked.
Judy was such a “kid”.
I remember what a tour de force Judy had in her role in “Wit”, a one-woman show at Steamer Ten. She blew me away- as she did my students. Such commitment to character.
One time I needed an actress to fill in for a rehearsal for a play I wrote and Judy was right there. She read “Bettina” an Italian neighbor. Again, she simply could step into a role and be so convincing. I knew she was busy with her acting and writing and I thanked her and she reminded me she needed to spend some time with Gil, too.
It was around Halloween last year that Judy appeared at Tony Pallone’s to do a reading of MacBeth. She looked so darling that day. I never knew for a second she was sick. She and I both played the witches. We sat huddled together under a lamp, concurring that we had the best rolls in the play. She always had this sense of immediacy when she performed. I treasure spending time with her that day.
She often would send me emails, just sort of intuitively. And they uplifted me. She appreciated the least little thing. I remember a piece she wrote about her decision to become a stewardess. She was acting on the advice of a professor, whom she looked on at the time as a father figure. It was mostly dialogue and so poignant.
She and Gil invited Jeff and myself for breakfast after she had become sick. But again, she was up and about and had this great sense of humor. I asked if we should bring bagels; Gil said “No”, but Judy said “I would like a bagel”. So we brought her a sesame bagel and an “everything” bagel. She was doing drawing then. It was such a refreshing morning to be with her. She said she was walking every day, she and Gil.
She liked to walk.
We saw her again one Sunday. She and Gil were going out shopping. She looked so good- always so interested in everyone else. Very unselfish. And then before her birthday, (in December I believe it was), we stopped by. She had written some poems that she wanted to share. She was always creating.
And she always made you feel like you were the most important person in the world.
She was so proud of you, Jenna, and Aaron and the little one. She told me how you’d been to Tallinn, Estonia on an art residency, I think it was.
She and Gil did so many Shakespeare breakfasts. And she was so attentive. She knew exactly how I liked my tea. I’d walk in and before I knew it, there would be a cup of Earl Grey in my hand.
That was Judy.
Thanks for letting me share memories. Judy is very missed. This has helped.
Sincerely,
Sandi, Jeff too
