Judith A. Nelson

SHEFFIELD, Mass. - Judith Arlene "Jude, Judy" Nelson died peacefully after a battle with cancer at her home in Sheffield, Massachusetts, on February 7, 2012, at the age of 66. Born in Springfield, Vermont, Judith traveled internationally and lived for many years in Boston before moving to the Berkshires and sharing her time between Sheffield, Massachusetts, and Tucson, Arizona.

Judith was tremendously talented and professionally accomplished as an artist. She received an undergraduate degree in illustration from Syracuse University in New York, a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and a master's degree in education from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She worked from her beautiful studios in Sheffield, Massachusetts, and at the base of the Catalina Mountains in Tucson, Arizona. There she created children's books and many other illustrations from greeting cards and toy packaging to character development, new product concepts and numerous licensed characters. Judith free-lanced for such companies as Hasbro, Milton Bradley, Mattel, Fisher-Price, Walt Disney, Hallmark, Parker Brothers, Tyco, Tonka and Playskool. Additionally, she worked as assistant art director for the Arthur License participating in the creation of over 50 Arthur books. Judith had a meticulous eye for detail and leaves a legacy of beautiful paintings, prints and countless books.

Judith is survived by her partner, Steven Levine, his children, Aliya Gard and her husband Lance of Cary, North Carolina, Hannah Wijeratna and her husband Robert of London, United Kingdon, and Jesse Levine of Fort Collins, Colorado; her grandchildren, Ava, Grace, Pierson and Simon; her nephew, Jay Nelson and his wife Barbara of Penfield, New York, their children, Connor, Trevor, Harper and Audrey; her cousins, Geoffrey Templeton, his wife Loraine and their children, Jamie and Michael, of Mill Spring, North Carolina, Gary Templeton and his children, Traci and Kristi, of Cloverdale, Oregon, Jane Hine, her husband Al Hine and their children, Tristan, Mathew and Christopher, of Seminole, Florida; and her cats, Oscar and Motor. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth and Jim Nelson; and her beloved cats, Sidney, Clyde and Thomas.

A celebration of her life will take place at her home in the coming summer. If you would like to be notified of date and location, please send an email to jnmemorial2012@gmail.com. Contributions in her name may be made to Hospice Care in the Berkshires Inc. http://www.hcib.org (413) 443-2994.