Your mom was a great lady. She was most generous with me when my family faced a grave health issue. Her kindness and empathy and knowledge helped us get through our tough times.
Your mother was one of the most wonderful people whom I have ever had the privilege to know. Her kindness and intelligence made her a special friend. I think about her all the time.
She glowed when she spoke about you and your brother. I know that she would be very proud of this tribute that you have created in her memory.
As the Jewish prayer says, "May her memory be for a blessing."
From Marsha Your blog is such a good idea and I want to post a comment. The first Thing that I want to say is that your mom loved you SO much. Let me share two stories with you. I remember the first time I met you. We were at Allie's Bat Mitzvah and your parents introduced a very adorable baby named Jack to us. You were in your stroller and your mom was smiling ear to ear when we saw you for the first time. She was just so happy. When your mom was happy or amused, she would not only smile, but she would smile a very wide smile and her eyes would sparkle and she would also have a small laugh, the "Judy laugh", that I will always remember and love.
Some of my favorite times with you and your family were when you were little and we'd go to your park. You loved to get out of the stroller and run around playing, pointing at the train going by, and being so happy that we would all be smiling, laughing, and playing along with you. Your mom would follow you all around the park and say the names of everything you pointed at so that you could learn all those words. She always seemed happy when she was following you in the park. I miss your mom a lot, but I love both those memories of her and you.
From Jane Judy was one of the smartest, sharpest, funniest people I knew. We first met in 7th grade at Marie Curie JHS in 1963. I hadn't been the most popular kid in elementary school, and sometimes was made fun of for being an "egghead" -- I think in today's language that would be a nerd -- and was looking forward to a new school where I might perhaps find some kindred spirits. I do not remember exactly in which class I met Judy, but she was indeed a kindred spirit. We were on the school newspaper, the "Curie-Us" together, and we spent a lot of time at each other's homes. Together, with Sue Puchalsky, we formed our own society. We came up with the metaphor of people as fruits. The shallow, clique-y girls we likened to persimmons -- sweet at the first bite, but then leaving an unpleasant taste. We were like Delicious apples, crunchy and good and sweet through and through. And when I say society I mean Society. If we were not going to be in the "in" crowd, we'd make our own. We became the Apple Society and Anti-Persimmon League, United. We had business cards. I actually found one a couple of years ago and mailed it to Judy. Judy always came up with fun activities that would engage our terrific combined sense of humor. One of our greatest accomplishments, in my opinion, took place in this very building. This was during the time of Rabbi Levin and Cantor Abelson, who was the advisor of the Youth Group. Purim was coming, and we decided to write a Purimspiel using the melodies of a new musical group that had recently come upon the scene -- the Beatles. It wasn't just that we had fun together -- Judy was an ally, a support, and while adolescence isn't the easiest time, having Judy as a friend made those very good times indeed. After high school we went to different colleges and then lost touch when I moved to North Carolina. But several years ago I moved back, and Sue got the three of us together again. So, for several years, we’d get together for Thai food, latkes, Chinese food, latkes – but the important common denominator of our get-togethers was not food, but laughter. We were all just as funny as we were when we were teens, only now we were smarter, too. Whatever issues we were dealing with, the others bolstered us. It was such a feeling of comfort and camaraderie. Judy was, as she was earlier, the most creative of our group. She spent considerable time recently visiting college campuses with Ben, and she became a real pro at analyzing the spiels delivered on college admission tours. Over the summer she composed her own and sent it to me –it was a riot; she absolutely “got” the technique of the tour and wrote a phenomenal spoof. Since I used to work in an admissions office myself, I found it additionally funny. As we all know, Judy kept up a very brave front and rarely referred to her health issues. She wanted to be in the moment, traveling, laughing, enjoying being with her friends and family. She never lost her sense of humor or her ability to help others with her calm wisdom. The last time Judy, Sue and I got together, was early this past summer. Sue had suggested that the Apples really ought to have a secret handshake with which to greet each other. We had a lot of fun devising and practicing this. I would show it to you now, except – it’s secret. But it’s no secret that Sue and I loved Judy very much, and will miss her very much. Apples forever!
Dear Jack, we were so delighted to meet you as a baby. Your mother was so proud and happy with the new addition to the family. As we watched you grow, we always admired the love that Judy showed for you. We will never forget your mother's courage and dignity during her illness, and complete lack of any self-pity. She was an example and an inspiration to us all. Never forget that she didn't want to leave you. We will always cherish her memory, and look forward with you to a future that will always reflect on her loving guidance. From Linda, Saul and Benjamin
Your mom was a great lady. She was most generous with me when my family faced a grave health issue. Her kindness and empathy and knowledge helped us get through our tough times.
ReplyDelete-Danny
From Alice
ReplyDeleteDear Jack,
Your mother was one of the most wonderful people whom I have ever had the privilege to know. Her kindness and intelligence made her a special friend. I think about her all the time.
She glowed when she spoke about you and your brother. I know that she would be very proud of this tribute that you have created in her memory.
As the Jewish prayer says, "May her memory be for a blessing."
From Marsha
Your blog is such a good idea and I want to post a comment. The first
Thing that I want to say is that your mom loved you SO much. Let me share two stories with you. I remember the first time I met you. We were at Allie's Bat Mitzvah and your parents introduced a very adorable baby named Jack to us. You were in your stroller and your mom was smiling ear to ear when we saw you for the first time. She was just so happy. When your mom was happy or amused, she would not only smile, but she would smile a very wide smile and her eyes would sparkle and she would also have a small laugh, the "Judy laugh", that I will always remember and love.
Some of my favorite times with you and your family were when you were
little and we'd go to your park. You loved to get out of the stroller
and run around playing, pointing at the train going by, and being so happy that we would all be smiling, laughing, and playing along with you. Your mom would follow you all around the park and say the names of everything you pointed at so that you could learn all those words. She always seemed happy when she was following you in the park. I miss your mom a lot, but I love both those memories of her and you.
From Jane
ReplyDeleteJudy was one of the smartest, sharpest, funniest people I knew. We first met in 7th grade at Marie Curie JHS in 1963. I hadn't been the most popular kid in elementary school, and sometimes was made fun of for being an "egghead" -- I think in today's language that would be a nerd -- and was looking forward to a new school where I might perhaps find some kindred spirits. I do not remember exactly in which class I met Judy, but she was indeed a kindred spirit. We were on the school newspaper, the "Curie-Us" together, and we spent a lot of time at each other's homes. Together, with Sue Puchalsky, we formed our own society. We came up with the metaphor of people as fruits. The shallow, clique-y girls we likened to persimmons -- sweet at the first bite, but then leaving an unpleasant taste. We were like Delicious apples, crunchy and good and sweet through and through. And when I say society I mean Society. If we were not going to be in the "in" crowd, we'd make our own. We became the Apple Society and Anti-Persimmon League, United. We had business cards. I actually found one a couple of years ago and mailed it to Judy. Judy always came up with fun activities that would engage our terrific combined sense of humor. One of our greatest accomplishments, in my opinion, took place in this very building. This was during the time of Rabbi Levin and Cantor Abelson, who was the advisor of the Youth Group. Purim was coming, and we decided to write a Purimspiel using the melodies of a new musical group that had recently come upon the scene -- the Beatles. It wasn't just that we had fun together -- Judy was an ally, a support, and while adolescence isn't the easiest time, having Judy as a friend made those very good times indeed. After high school we went to different colleges and then lost touch when I moved to North Carolina. But several years ago I moved back, and Sue got the three of us together again. So, for several years, we’d get together for Thai food, latkes, Chinese food, latkes – but the important common denominator of our get-togethers was not food, but laughter. We were all just as funny as we were when we were teens, only now we were smarter, too. Whatever issues we were dealing with, the others bolstered us. It was such a feeling of comfort and camaraderie. Judy was, as she was earlier, the most creative of our group. She spent considerable time recently visiting college campuses with Ben, and she became a real pro at analyzing the spiels delivered on college admission tours. Over the summer she composed her own and sent it to me –it was a riot; she absolutely “got” the technique of the tour and wrote a phenomenal spoof. Since I used to work in an admissions office myself, I found it additionally funny. As we all know, Judy kept up a very brave front and rarely referred to her health issues. She wanted to be in the moment, traveling, laughing, enjoying being with her friends and family. She never lost her sense of humor or her ability to help others with her calm wisdom. The last time Judy, Sue and I got together, was early this past summer. Sue had suggested that the Apples really ought to have a secret handshake with which to greet each other. We had a lot of fun devising and practicing this. I would show it to you now, except – it’s secret. But it’s no secret that Sue and I loved Judy very much, and will miss her very much. Apples forever!
Dear Jack, we were so delighted to meet you as a baby. Your mother was so proud and happy with the new addition to the family. As we watched you grow, we always admired the love that Judy showed for you. We will never forget your mother's courage and dignity during her illness, and complete lack of any self-pity. She was an example and an inspiration to us all. Never forget that she didn't want to leave you. We will always cherish her memory, and look forward with you to a future that will always reflect on her loving guidance. From Linda, Saul and Benjamin
ReplyDelete