JUDITH ANN CION

CION JUDITH ANN (SCHNEIDER)
Judith Ann Cion, née Schneider, 68, died July 6, 2011, at home in Connecticut after a five year valiant battle with ovarian cancer. Born in New York City to Peter and Ruth Schneider she graduated from high school in Scarsdale. Judy spent her childhood summers at Cape Cod in her family's summer home which she loved and later shared with her friends until it was sold after her father's death. After enrolling in college on the East Coast, she decided that a change of scenery was in order and transferred to Pomona College in Claremont, CA. After returning to the East Coast and graduating from Harvard Law School, Judy practiced law and held various positions, including, partner at Lovejoy, Wasson, head of the securities group at Mellon Bank, and general counsel at Hibernia Bank. Judy was a member of the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals and its Chairman from 1992-1993. She co-authored various publications on corporate governance. An expert in the field, she spent several years in Eastern Europe after the collapse of the Soviet Union and worked tirelessly with NGO's to assist Eastern European and former Soviet Bloc nations to build and maintain stable corporate and financial systems. Her love for theatre and modern dance, especially ballet, was unwavering. Among other positions, Judy was a Board Member of the New Orleans Ballet Association from 1992 through 1998. There was no show on Broadway or off-off Broadway that she did not attend. An avid traveler, Judy introduced her many friends to Golden Rock in Nevis and Rollins' rum cocktails long before Nevis became fashionable. Judy applied her boundless energy to everything she did and everyone she met. She did not shy away from lively debate, especially political. Any left leaning liberal could always rely on her zealous support. She dispensed advice on any subject to close friends and new acquaintances alike. Judy was a stickler for the propriety of others, but not her own. She advised that "houseguests were like fish" and should be tossed out after three days. However, as a houseguest, her sojourns lasted longer than her prescription. She was an adventurous and industrious cook and baker to the delight and dismay of her friends. She once cooked broccoli rabe for 120 people for the Palio on Minetta Street and took charge of neighborhood children for set-up and table service. At Christmas, she manufactured her renowned spiced nuts and cookies for holiday delivery. Most of all Judy loved to entertain friends at home and her Thanksgiving dinners were produced as super- sized crowd pleasers. After Hurricane Katrina and learning of her illness, Judy left New Orleans. Following a long search she found a new home in which she could celebrate her final Thanksgiving in the company of her closest friends. She purchased and renovated a house in Connecticut and continued those renovations until her death. Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday and her last one was joyfully celebrated with the family that she created through will and circumstance. Donations in Judy's memory may be made to The Joyce Theater Foundation (www.joyce.org) or Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (www.mskcc.org). A gathering to celebrate Judy's life will be held in the Fall at a date to be determined. If you wish to be included in this event please register your interest at:
judycionMemorial@gmail.com
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