I am actually Susie's friend and have been for almost 50 years so of course I knew Judy.  She even came to my wedding.  Judy brought unbelievable energy, verve and fun wherever she went.  She was one of the fastest talkers I have ever encountered and her smile lit up the room.  And she always had that twinkle in her eyes which meant we were going to have a great time. She is also someone who everyone never forgets.  My husband and my daughters maybe met her a couple of times but they remember her.

She will be missed.

My condolences to all that knew and loved her, especially Susie, Steve, Paul and Ellen.

Love,

Sandy

                                                              My friend Judy

Loving, Creative, Funny, Courageous, Generous, Compassionate, Wise, Playful, Brave and so much more.

I first met Judy in LA, in late 2002, when she was my Supervising Producer on a show for NBC about the Guinness Book of World Records. Born in NYC and a west coast transplant like me, we bonded immediately. Many Barry’s Bootcamps, and early morning Saturday hikes later, (after Judy swam of course), she became one of my closest and most loved friends. She immediately brought my husband and I into her family of friends, as close to me as she was to my husband Ford- unusual when the girls meet and bond first. She showed me the best places to hike in LA, and we would hike together till we were both exhausted, drink tons of water and, or course, make time to have a coffee together. [ at Gelson's if we did the Encino hike]

I was always inspired and in awe of her creativity. In Judy’s eyes, nothing was impossible to make- and she made it look so easy- bringing a refreshing openness, and willingness to try things, into all of her work and her life. Judy lived with passion. She loved her life, Steve and her family, working out, making tv shows, traveling, fighting for people who had no voice and she was always researching new creative activities to do. The last tv job I had in LA before Ford and I moved to Oklahoma, was for Awestruck- a part of AwesomenessTV and I could bop my head into her office regularly, or plop down on her sofa when I needed to talk. Judy was the first of my broadcast producing friends to venture into digital. She saw the future coming before all of us. Judy was a maverick.

This is a crazy memory but it is the little things that keep popping into my mind: Judy taught me about massaging kale when you put it into a salad. I remember standing in your kitchen Steve and Judy telling me to put my hands into the salad bowl and to just squeeze around. I’ll never forget that!  Steve, that was the night you made that amazing steak dinner and Ford ate 2/3rds of it by himself!! We still laugh about that.

I remember so many beautiful and fun dinners in Judy and Steve’s home. At Judy’s birthday parties there were always awesome games and fun activities and the room was always filled with the most loving and creative people. I always met someone I wanted to keep in touch with at a Judy party. 

Mostly, I remember laughing with Judy because she had the best sense of humor.

Judy was so informed and well-read and knew about the latest art exhibits in NY and LA, the latest NY times bestsellers and I remember being in awe of her changing stack of books that she was always reading. Judy was everything I loved about NYC and LA rolled into a wise, dependable, caring and amazing friend. When I needed an informed opinion about something or someone, Judy always gave it to me straight- no BS and in a caring and kind way. I always felt like Judy was an older sister to me.

Judy took me cross country skiing with Susie for the first time in my life outside of LA and I’ll never forget how Judy was way out in front of us, making it look so easy, and I was struggling to stay my the skis!! It was so much fun. I never even knew that place existed.  A trailblazer in every area of her life, Judy had a way of making everything look effortless. Judy was the first of my friends to drive a Prius and helped my husband and I buy our first Prius’s too.   [ thank you Ben!]

Judy was always involved in charity work, giving of herself. I remember her being a tireless advocator for children who didn’t have a voice. When Judy got behind a cause, she gave it her all. Her heart was wide enough to hold the world.

I cannot believe my dear friend is gone. Living so far away now, it's even more surreal. We last talked the beginning of February only a few weeks ago. Judy was one of those humans that made the world better because she was in it. She made mine and Ford’s life infinitely brighter. Thinking of Judy will always make my heart smile. I loved her so much. We were lucky to know her and we will miss her forever. Xoxoxo Lauree and Ford

Dennis, Sofie, Zach, and I send our deepest condolences.  I feel grateful for numerous dinners, movies, hikes, rollerblading adventures, and conversations. 

 Judy, I thank you for always being unapologetically you.  I loved that about you.  I knew that your words were honest and genuine.  Thank you for your support, laughs, and encouragement over the years.   Those of us that had the pleasure of knowing you are better for it.  We miss you. 

Judy was a brilliant producer, a great woman and an excellent friend. If it had not been for her I doubt we would have made a life for ourselves in the United States. When she was at VH1 all those years ago she commissioned my business partner Trevor and I and our company The English Channel to produce Buster's Happy Hour with the  "not easy" Buster Poindexter and we bonded over that experience which happened at precisely the same time as the Northridge Earthquake in 1994.  Judy and I remained friends and it was one of those perfect friendships that sometimes we talked a lot and then not for a long time, and it never mattered, we just picked up where we left off. 

Steve we adore you, please come and stay with us in Austin. We are here for you. Sending much love to you and to Judy's sister and her incredible family of friends. Juliet & Mark  xox

Judy and I worked together many years ago at GSN Live. I liked her immediately. I'm sure our shared NY roots helped but she just had an aura of energy you always wanted to be around. Years later she called me to see if we could work out an idea she had but, in the end, we agreed it wasn't feasible. All the convos we had while working on it though, were hilarious.

A few years later I got a text from her asking if we could set up a haircut. I replied telling her I think she meant the text for someone else but was happy to be in touch and asked how she was. She laughed and said her hair person was named Maria also so she obviously hit the wrong button. I loved it because we got to catch up and have some new giggles. Until a year or two later when she did the same thing. More giggles. I loved that no matter how much time had passed, she was always full of life and questions and great laughs. That's how I'll always remember her. Wanting me to cut her hair.

Sending love to Steve and all her family and friends. 

I met Judy through swimming, but our relationship formed through volunteering as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs). One morning in the VNSO swim locker room, Judy mentioned that she was going to volunteer as a CASA. I didn’t know Judy well except as a vibrant presence at the pool, but the program was appealing. I asked Judy for information and signed up to volunteer. When I told Judy, she immediately said let’s drive together to the classes (6 weeks every Saturday at Santa Monica College). A couple of weeks into the classes, in the locker room at VNSO, Judy asked if I’d be interested in teaming up with her. The next weekend (Judy was traveling), coincidentally, the instructor pulled me aside and asked if Judy and I would want to team up to work with a sibling set.

Along came Marcos and Alan, our CASA sibling set. For the next year, every Saturday Judy planned an adventure – hiking, visits to the LB Aquarium, kayaking, etc. She’d pick me up and we’d trundle out to Lynwood (often getting hopelessly lost). On those trips, I came to appreciate Judy’s joy, passion, vibrancy and intelligence. I looked forward to when she’d return home from trips with Steve knowing that when I asked her “how was the trip”, she’d invariably respond, “It was amazing!!!” And, then regale me with detailed accounts of all they’d seen and done, and, most importantly, who they’d met. Judy was also a great listener and she got to know me, too on those drives.

At some point, it looked like Marcos and Alan’s dad would not be able to jump the hurdles to reunify his family of five children. Their foster care home was not fabulous. I said to Judy that maybe I could get certified as a foster parent so Marcos and Alan could live with me. She immediately responded, if you do Steve (sorry, Steve) and I will be your backup team. Then she joked about dragging Steve into  things.

Marcos and Alan’s dad figured out a way to get his kids back. On our last visit to see Marcos and Alan after they’d been reunified with their dad, I told Judy that I thought I still might become a foster parent. She immediately responded, if you do Steve (sorry, Steve) and I will be your backup team. And, she joked about dragging Steve into things.

A year later, Mikey showed up. His second night with me, I took Mikey to meet Judy and Steve for dinner at PizzaRev. Every single weekend from the time Mikey entered my home through COVID, Judy planned an adventure – usually outdoors and active, since Mikey shares a passion for exercise – hiking, breakfast at Fred’s with a bike ride in Santa Monica, swimming, etc. And, every single Monday, Steve picked Mikey up from school so he could spend the evening with them while I taught. When I finished teaching at 7:00, I’d go to Judy and Steve’s house for dinner and I’d bring Mikey home. Eventually that became Mikey staying overnight with them every Monday until COVID.

When things got challenging, Judy was there listening to me rant, helping me stay sane, think through what to do and making me laugh. I was stunned and amazed that she’d made the commitment to be there, and she was, always. I don’t think I realized that Judy had come to feel like family. It never occurred to me that she wouldn’t be there. It just didn’t.

I will always be grateful to Judy for her joy, exuberance, intelligence, humor, commitment, and kindness. I will always be grateful to Judy for Judy.