Judith Ann Piemme

1947 - 2018

Judith Ann Piemme

Peoria - Judith Ann Piemme of Peoria, AZ passed away quietly at The Forum at Desert Harbor nursing home on July 23, at age 70, after a long neurologic illness. Judy was born September 8, 1947 to Bernard and Virginia Cain of Elwood, IN. Graduating from Wendell Willkie High School, she attended Ball State University for a while until she moved to Cleveland and then Los Angeles. In 1977 she moved again to Washington, DC, where she was employed by the George Washington University School of Medicine. Soon thereafter she became administrative assistant to David Reiss, MD, Director of the Division of Family Research of the Department of Psychiatry. She assisted him in the editorship of psychiatric journals, a role she fulfilled for twenty years. At the same time she met Dr. Thomas E. Piemme who was to become Chair of the Department of Computer Medicine and Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education. They discovered shared interests in travel and theater. They married in June, 1980. Second marriages for both, Judy had no children of her own, but became a partner in raising the three children of Dr. Piemme. Dr. Piemme's leadership in national and international organizations, and meetings devoted to computer applications in medicine, provided a perfect vehicle for travel. Over more than 20 years they visited most of the nations of Western Europe (often with side trips to the Greek Islands), Egypt, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Judy became an avid photographer. Meanwhile, their interest in theater flourished. They spent time every summer with friends at the Chautauqua Institution in New York that invariably included side trips to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada. Judy would never let a year go by without at least two visits to New York and Broadway theaters. In 2005 they retired to Arizona, building a home in Sun City Grand in Surprise, AZ. They bought a small RV, and over 10 years managed to visit every state in the Continental United States, including a two month trip to Alaska. They became active in the Sun City Grand Drama and Comedy Club. While Tom served as President, Judy managed the box office, introducing assigned seating and a highly successful season ticket program. She served, as well, as the theater company's photographer. In addition to her husband, Judy is survived by two younger brothers, Roger Cain and his wife, Linda, of Elwood, IN; and David Cain of Alexandria, IN; and, of course, by her three stepchildren, Geoffrey Piemme, of Washington DC, Jennifer Piemme, of Boston MA, and Karen Piemme, of San Jose, CA. Honoring Judy's wish, there will be no services. A memorial "Celebration of Life" will be held in the fall. To leave condolence messages for the family please visit www.sunlandmemorial.com.