Judith Anne Brynda

Judith Brynda died peacefully in her sleep on May 1, 2024. Born June 23, 1937, and the oldest of four children, Judy grew up in Palos Verdes, California and spent her childhood as a cowgirl at the Palos Verdes Stables.
Judy was educated at UC Santa Barbara, Long Beach State, and Pepperdine University, earning her Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught for 34 years in the Palos Verdes School District, with a focus on second, third and fourth grades. Judy was an enthusiastic mentor known for her full heart, generosity and the power of the possible; many of her former students remained in contact with her well into their adulthoods. Her life in Southern California included a passion for driving, often at speed. She went on numerous cross-country road trips, including six weeks driving with her sister and daughter to the Yucatán Peninsula and back in a 1964 VW Beetle.
Judy was a marathon phone talker, passionate cat lover, ardent reader, generous patron to environmental groups and social justice causes, dedicated New York Times crossword puzzle solver, singer with pride of pitch, pro whistler, and magnificent storyteller with a love of the absurd. She always had an irreverent story, and her raucous laughter could be heard across the room. She loved a good coffee shop breakfast with her dear friends. For anyone needing encouragement, Judy always had a fun greeting card, usually one she had made from her pastel work or photography. She was an ordained minister in the Church of Life and officiated many weddings.
After retiring in the late '90s, Judy moved to San Jose to be closer to her family, including her three grandchildren. In addition to grandparenting, Judy forged deep relationships and wore many hats in the community, as an artist with the Cambrian Art League, part-owner of a maker art studio in Los Gatos, leader at TOPS (weight management group), writer in the "Memoirs" class (Judy performing her tribute poems was a feature at many parties), exercise teacher at the Almaden Recreation Center, and patron of the San Jose Repertory Theatre.
Judy is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Sequeira; son-in-law, Allwyn Sequeira; granddaughters, Jessica Sequeira, Sophia Sequeira Pistis and Fiona Sequeira; great son-in-law, Jonathan Pistis; great granddaughter Zoë Pistis; and sister, Katherine Holden.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in Judy's name to provide art supplies to Hope Services San Jose.