JULIA FITZSIMMONS "Judy" CORTESE

For all the years Judy and I worked together at HB I found her to be an inspirational administrator. Student centered, creative and generous with a wonderful sense of humor and laugh. Family, friends, former students and former colleagues will remember her with love and fondness.

To find a great teacher is to find pure gold. And Judy Cortese was that great teacher to a generation of HB students of the 1960s and 70s. It was a privilege to be there in the 1970s and observe Judy in her role as educator and mentor in her own inimitable, laid back, easy going style. All those years spent inspiring and encouraging those HB girls made her life itself an inspiration to those who worked beside her.

Judy truly was a once in a lifetime teacher. I will never forget the day she came into the auditorium at HB during chapel to announce "The frogs are in amplexus!" She inspired all of us to work achieve our potential and love biology. So many young women decided to pursue careers in science thanks to her mentoring. My thoughts and prayers are with all your family as you mourn her loss.

Mr.Cortese, Say, Carol, Lizzie and Sam,
Though it's almost 40 years since we left Braemar Road, the memories are still vivid. Among the most fond are the times I spent with your family, sleepovers, birthdays, Christmas tree decorating. Your Christmas cookies with the special frosting,and Easter baskets with beautifully colored eggs and jelly beans. All special touches from your Mom.
Her legacy lives on in the special people you all are.

Love,

Robin

She was an inspiring and supportive teacher who taught us all so much. I will surely miss her.

Dear Joe, Say, Carol, Liz and Sam,

I was very sad to hear about your mom's death on Valentine's Day. I will always feel lucky to have had the privilege of growing up next to your family.

Some things I remember about Judy:

She knew a lot about the natural world. Find a bug, a plant or a rock and Mrs. Cortese would be interested in looking at it, and would tell you something about it.

She laughed often and with gusto, and had a great sense of...

Dear Mr. Cortese, Sam, Liz, Carol, and Sarah,
Like my sisters, my memories of Braemar Road include our cheerful neighbor, your Mom. I will never forget her laugh, her smiling face, and her marvelous Easter Eggs.
My deepest sympathy on her passing.

When I was a foreign exchange student in Shaker Hights (Ohio) many years ago, I had had great teachers in my Spanish high school and went on to have wonderful ones in universities in Spain, the US, Italy and Australia. I liked some of them very much but no one came close to having the impact of HB's "Mrs. Cortese". She was the teacher who made me envisage seriously a career as a scientist, as she made the driest subjects come alive with her enthusiasm; doing lab work in her class was the only...

Dear Joe, Sammy, Lizzie, Carol and Sarah,
My deepest sympathies for the loss of your wonderful wife and mom. She always had a smile on her face and she made my memories of Braemar very special. My thoughts are with you all.
With much love,
Judy Moore Duffy