Judith Elaine Donaldson

On Monday, January 16, 2023, Judith Elaine Donaldson - beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, activist, educator, life-long learner, and inspiration to all whose lives she touched - passed away in her home surrounded by family. Judie was eighty-four.

Judie's life purpose was her commitment to serving others. As a mother, she was an active member of the PTA, led Cub Scout and Brownie troops, and earned a reputation for having the best Halloween treats in town, often consisting of homemade candy apples. Most importantly, she raised her three children to be strong, loving, independent thinkers and encouraged them to trust themselves and their capabilities.

Judie was passionate about education. She spent 20 years as a faculty member, program director, and dean for institutions, including time at Montclair State, Bloomfield College, Upsala College, New York University, University of San Francisco, and the California Institute of Integral Studies. She had a particular passion for empowering older adults to return to education. Later, she became the Executive Director of Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting excellence in philanthropy.

Judie has also been a passionate feminist and advocate for women throughout her entire career and post-professional pursuits, acting as a catalyst for lasting change in every community she touched. In the 70s, she founded a non-profit organization that provided education, skills development, and career planning services to women; taught women's college courses on assertiveness training; and directed a women's resource center and degree program. In recent years, Judie continued her endeavor to gain awareness about women's issues. She read over 125 memoirs of women living in different circumstances around the world, particularly in developing countries. She was a consistent supporter of organizations aimed at uplifting women's rights globally.

Ever the person dedicated to improving and supporting her community, when Judie retired to Benicia, CA in 2011, she harnessed her seemingly inexhaustible well of energy to co-found the Carquinez Village, an organization that provides educational and cultural programs, a social network, and support services for older adults wanting to remain in their homes while living actively and independently. Related to this endeavor, Judie became a regular contributor to the Voice of the Village column in the Benicia Herald.

Her leadership, activism, and volunteerism resulted in many awards throughout her lifetime including the ATHENA Leadership Award and Solano County Senior of the Year Award.

Judie touched so many lives with her generosity of spirit, and had recently shared one of her fundamental tenets of life, drawn from her Buddhist studies: "the key to life is loving-kindness". Judie is survived by her three children and their spouses, Scot Swanborn (Sueanne Campbell), Tracy Swanborn (Niles Baker), Pam Swanborn (Mark Wessel), and five grandchildren, Parker Swanborn, Forest Swanborn, Maddie Swanborn, Charlie Swanborn, and Kira Baker. In lieu of flowers, Judie would be honored with a donation to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.