JUDITH STEIR

STEIR--Judith Shubow. Judith Shubow Steir was an author and songwriter who wrote the book, music and lyrics for Only a Kingdom, a new musical about the love story of King Edward VIII of Great Britain and the American divorcee Wallis Simpson for whom he renounced the British Throne. The musical was produced by several theaters across the country, including the Pasadena Playhouse and Guild Hall in the Hamptons, and received many favorable reviews. Broadway legend Betty Buckley included Steir's "Except Goodbye" on her 2018 album "Hope." Mentored by Henry Lasker, a Boston composer, teacher and colleague of Leonard Bernstein and, later, by two-time Tony-winning choreographer Donald Saddler, Judy authored another full musical entitled Far Above Rubies, a song cycle, movie sketches and had three other musicals in process. She was a member of ASCAP and the Friars Club. To listen to the music to Only a Kingdom, click here ONLY A KINGDOM - A New Musical by Judith Shubow Steir. Judy was born in Boston in 1930, the first child of Rabbi Joseph Shalom Shubow, well-known spiritual leader of Temple B'nai Moshe of Brighton, and his wife Beatrice Citron Shubow. A graduate of Brookline High, Judy attended Boston University and graduated in 1952 with a BA in English. She married Berton Steir of Quincy, MA later that year. The couple lived for over 30 years in the Fisher Hill neighborhood of Brookline, MA, relocating to New York City in the early '90s. An extraordinarily warm, positive and generous woman, Judy was loved and admired by many and built meaningful relationships with a wide circle of extended family, friends and theater colleagues. She was predeceased by her husband Bert in March of this year, and by her younger brother Moshe Yechiel in 1989. She is survived by her sister-in-law MaryJane Shubow, her children Mitchell Steir, Vivian Steir Rabin and Daniel Steir, 11 grandchildren and 12 great- grandchildren. If you would like to make a donation in Judy's memory, her family would very much appreciate it and suggests the following organizations or any other that you support: Home - FIDF, Friends of Israel Defense Forces, providing emotional, financial and educational support to Israel's soldiers, including volunteers who join the IDF from all over the world to fight for the Jewish state. Keren Hashviis, the only organization dedicated to supporting Israeli farmers keeping the biblical mitzvah of shmita, allowing the land of Israel to lie fallow in the seventh year. Leket Israel - Rescuing nutritious surplus food for Israelis in need.