Judith Joseph

North Hero, Vermont - Judith Goldstein Joseph, 70, passed away on February 21, 2014 after a long, brave struggle against Lou Gehrig's disease (A.L.S.). Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 16, 1943, she was the daughter of Freda (Moed) and Leon Goldstein. She leaves her husband of 50 years, Ben W. Joseph, her children, David and Anna, Claire Olivia Moed, a cousin that she helped to raise, her nieces Rachel and Ruth, her nephew Mark and their children and her five grandchildren Gabriel, Noah, Patrick, Daniel and Sarah.
Judith was a graduate of the College of the University of Pennsylvania (B.A.), Drexel University (M.S.L.S.) and the Rutgers School of Law (J.D.) She worked as a librarian at the Library of Congress and LaSalle University. After graduating from law school, she worked as an attorney in private practice with her husband in Philadelphia. During that time, she helped to found Women Against Abuse, an organization which started Philadelphia's first shelter for battered women. She moved to Vermont in 1991 where her career continued to flourish. She worked at a shelter for victims of domestic violence, Women Helping Battered Women, in Burlington and then became a deputy State's Attorney in Franklin County prosecuting crimes of domestic violence and sexual assault. Later she became coordinator for the state-wide Vermont Network against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. Her life was devoted to her family and serving the interests of human dignity, peace and justice.
She was a life-long member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and served as co-President of the Jane Addams Peace Association (JAPA) for three years until November, 2013. In the last two years, she worked as a volunteer attorney at the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Center.
Judith had a gift for friendship and had many devoted friends and colleagues. Sally, Judy B, Jeri, Lila, Sandy, Linda, Judy Dickson and many other dear friends will deeply miss her counsel and affection. Judith was pre-deceased by her parents and her beloved sister, Judge Martha Wyatt, of Annapolis, Maryland. The family is especially grateful to our friends and neighbors in North Hero who gave us so much comfort and support in this difficult time. Donations in Judith's memory can be sent to Women Helping Battered Women, 279 North Winooski Avenue, Burlington, Vermont and the Jane Addams Peace Association, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, New York, 10017
At Judith's request, there will be no funeral service. A memorial will be held later this spring.