Judith Blanchard

1944 - 2025

Judith Blum Blanchard, age 81, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2025, after a valiant battle against cancer. In her final days, she was surrounded by her devoted family, friends, and former students.

Born on January 20, 1944, she was the eldest child of Hannah and A. Jesse Blum. She is survived by her loving husband of nearly 33 years, Stephen Blanchard; her cherished children, twins Kira and Sander Willig (Ruchi), her adored grandchild, her precious nieces, and other dear family. She was predeceased by her beloved parents; her siblings Bonnie, Bobby, and Sandra Ellen; and her former husband, Stuart.

A native daughter of Miami and pillar in every community she served, Judy attended Ponce de Leon Junior and graduated from Coral Gables Senior in 1962, where she played flute in the orchestra and piccolo in the marching band. She was known to read a book during games in between musical sets. She attended USF and was a member of Tri Delta, but thought Tampa was "too cold," returned home, and graduated from University of Miami in 1966.

Judy began teaching English at Coral Park Senior, then Edison Senior, and then Cutler Ridge Junior, where she was faculty advisor of the school yearbook, newspaper, and literary journal. In 1985, she was awarded a Master's of Science from Nova Southeastern. Her thesis, Using Instruction in Sentence Combining to Improve Syntactic Maturity in Student Writing, was published and admired for its practical applications in the classroom. Judy then taught Honors and A.P. English at Miami Southridge Senior High and was named MDCPS Regional Teacher of the Year in 2000.

Whether they knew her as Ms. Willig, or, after she remarried, as Ms. Blanchard, she was beloved by generations of students. She was known for baking brownies for her and her daughter's students and taught her grandchild to bake. Her recipe placed 4th in the Herald's brownie competition.

After thirty-seven years of service to MDCPS, Judy taught English at Miami Dade College for ten years. When she retired in 2014, the Herald featured her family's generations of educators, including her father, a band director; her mother, an elementary school tutor; her sister, an elementary school teacher, and her daughter, an adjunct faculty member at UM's School of Law.

Judy was deeply involved in education beyond the classroom. She participated in the first teacher's strike in 1968 that revolutionized collective bargaining rights and was a proud member of the United Teachers of Dade. She led teacher workshops, served on the MDCPS Calendar Committee, and served with the superintendent on a national committee.

In her final decade, Judy embraced retirement with enthusiasm and purpose. She belonged to book clubs; volunteered as a Guardian ad Litem; attended plays, book readings, concerts, the symphony, and transcendental meditation workshops; and enjoyed lunching with her friends, including her "Fab Five" group. She was a frequent contributor to the Herald's Letters to the Editor and an active member of the Dedicated Dems of Florida City/Homestead.

Judy was a lifelong member of the Jewish community. She grew up at Temple Beth Am, and her twins celebrated their b'nai mitzvah at Temple Shir Ami. After Hurricane Andrew, she and Steve moved to the Redland and joined Temple Hatikvah. She delighted in attending services with her children at Temple Israel, and during the pandemic, enjoyed the televised services of Central Synagogue.

Judy was happiest when with her family, all of whom remember her as the most supportive and wonderful person to be around. May Judy rest in peace, knowing how profoundly she shaped the lives of those she touched, through her wisdom, her kindness, and her boundless love.

Her family is honoring her with a Celebration of Life on Sunday, October 12th, at 1:00 p.m., at UM's Newman Alumni Center.

A memorial award has been created in her honor at Miami Southridge Senior. Donations may be made in her name via Zelle to MiamiSouthridgeAlumni@gmail.com.