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Judith Holliday Obituary
Judith Elizabeth Holliday died peacefully February 8, 2008 at her home. She was born March 16, 1938 in Butler, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Robert Lewis Holliday and the late Mary Violet Stowe. She received her bachelor's degree from the College of Wooster and a master's in library science from Columbia University.
After almost 40 years on the professional staff of the Cornell University Libraries, she retired from the position of Fine Arts Librarian in 1996. Her love of opera, musical theatre, crossword puzzles, the New York Yankees, travel, good food and wine was well known.
In addition to her father, she is survived by her step-mother Freda; her sister, JoAnne Beckwith and her husband, James; her brother, Richard Holliday and his wife, June; niece Leslie Holliday Connors; nephews Ryan Holliday, Matthew Beckwith, and Sean Beckwith; great-niece, Emily Connors. She is also survived by many who were fortunate to be her friends, and she will be missed greatly by all who knew her.
A memorial service will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church, Ithaca, NY at a date to be announced. Judith requested contributions be made to the Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 or to the SPCA of Tompkins County, 1640 Hanshaw Road, Ithaca, NY 14850.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Judith Holliday
John & Nancy Laurence/Flynn
February 29, 2008
The passing of a dear friend
We shared many great times with Judith. We shared her love of baseball, although not the dreaded Yanquis. We shared her love of travel and reveled in her tales of "S&H" trips, as we called the SAH tours. We shared her love of theater. She read for us at our wedding. She hooked me on NYT crosswords. We shared a wonderful visit to Oregon that included Shakespeare, Crater Lake, great food, a state capitol, and lots of laughs. We know that a goal of hers was to stand on her head on the steps of every state capitol building. We smile as we see her walk through the Pearly Gates on her hands, asking St. Peter, which way to the First Base Side!
Dan Yoder
February 23, 2008
My friendship with Judy (whom I always called "Madam," in imitation of our College of Wooster, Ohio, music professor, Richard T. Gore, who called all female students "Madam") goes back to our undergraduate days fifty years ago (1958). Madam's love of classical music generally ("I think Brahms is my favorite," she opined prematurely in those days), and pipe organ (thanks to James Bossert), opera and Broadway musicals specifically, shone as only one bright facet of her incredibly active intellectual passions. She approached all of her interests (art, architecture, cats, gardens, food, wine, travel, baseball, books, Anglican theology, Italian and Russian languages, NYTimes crossword puzzles, theater, acting---to name just a few) with the same open-minded, perceptive curiosity and humor. One could always count on a conversation with her on whatever subject to stimulate thought and a desire for further research. I am happy to have shared an active daily email correspondence with her for the past year and a half and will treasure her brave cheerfulness and observations (all of which I saved) forever. The adjectives gleaned from the other Guest Book Entries---kind, loving, generous, helpful, caring, considerate, passionate, lovely, delightful, bright, gentle, wickedly humorous, tirelessly energetic---all fit her like a glove. She will be much missed. I send heartfelt condolences to all of her friends and family.
John Paul
February 22, 2008
I met Judith in 1966 when I started work at Uris Library where she was in charge of Reserve Books and a reference librarian. I was taken then, and for all her life, by her passion ... for literature, for opera, for music, for nature for crossword puzzles. She loved
to help others. She loved to serve. She loved to be on stage. She loved. I will miss her for the rest of my days.
Marie Sirakos
February 19, 2008
As relatively recent next door neighbors to Judith, we didn't get the opportunity to know her well. We always found her to be a wonderful and kind neighbor- always with warm greetings and a lovely smile. She will be missed in the neighborhood... our condolences to all of her friends and family. Marie Sirakos and Sam Trechter
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Paula Horrigan
February 19, 2008
I was so saddened to hear of Judith's passing. I have fond memories of her guidance at the Fine Arts Library when I was a landscape architecture graduate student there in the 1980's. But it was in the last decade that I really got to know Judith as we endeavored to design her garden on Cascadilla Street. With a little bit of geometry, a true axis, stone walls and stoops, space for beloved flowers and hedges and of course, a corner for veggies, especially basil and tomotoes! In her little patch of ground we created a fragmentary glimpse of Judith's love of travel, landscape and of course, gathering with friends to share a delicious meal or drink under the evening sky. I'll never forget Judith's laugh or her pure delight in seeing her narrow backyard site transform into the sanctuary of her dreams!
David Benn
February 19, 2008
Judith was fun, always interesting and helpful.
And interested in a bunch of crazy students... like us back in the days of 1969-74.
Diane Cho and I had a nice lunch with her a few years back in Ithaca and she was still going strong.
Another thread back to the JO Mahoney era gone.- David Benn
Alan Lockwood
February 17, 2008
I've known Judy, as she was called then, since 1961, when I was a freshman at Cornell. I have great memories of our various singing adventures, parties at their house, and rides in "Fafner" their VW bug. She was a fine friend who always knew what was right and wasn't afraid to say so. Sadly, she never made it to Buffalo for a Bisons game. I will miss her.
Carol Krinsky
February 16, 2008
This is a message with happy memories and sad condolence to Judith's family from a fellow member of the Society of Architectural Historians. We traveled together on the Society's study tours, where Judith was always a great trouper, lots of fun, bright and perceptive. For years, she provided the book list for the Society's newsletter. Lots of members from around the USA will miss her.
Malcolm Noden
February 15, 2008
Judith was a professional colleague and great friend to my close friend Prof. Tom Cullen in whose company she enjoyed many happy and exciting musical hours. We shall miss her gentle and piquant humor and her warm laughter during happier days.
"Insperata accidunt magis saepe quam quae speres" (Plautus)
gary ljungquist
February 15, 2008
Such happy memories flood back from the 60's and 70's--operas, dining, travel in Europe, giving Madam (Judith)German reading lessons in exchange for money to buy my academic regalia. Her intellectual curiosity and generosity were amazing. She is still with us in our hearts and minds.
Alice Colby-Hall
February 13, 2008
I was shocked and saddened by Judy's untimely death and wish that she could have enjoyed her retirement longer. I had known her since we were both graduate students at Columbia University and were living in the same graduate dormitory. You have my heartfelt sympathy.
Betsy Gamble
February 11, 2008
Sorry to hear of Judith's passing. She was a pleasure to work with, with a wicked sense of humor.
Dorothy Scorelle
February 10, 2008
In remembrance of Judy who I had known since the late 60s/early 70s when Sherm (Clarke) and I worked at Olin Library and frequented the art library at Sibley. I always enjoyed running into Judy after she retired -- usually at talks at the Johnson Art Museum or on the various Ithaca Art Trail weekends. Judy was a lover of art and culture; she will be missed.
Christian Nielsen
February 9, 2008
I will always remember Judy as one of my favorite people in Sibley Hall, during my days there in the late 80s. She helped me appreciate books, history and research more than I ever had before.
Shirley J Herson
February 9, 2008
I am so very, very saddened to learn of Judith's passing. I am a member of St. John's church along with Judith. She was one of the most wonderful women I have ever met. She was so loving and kind to everyone and just a pleasure to know. Her work for the church was endless and done with such great love. She will never be forgotten by the congregation of St. John's. I am so grateful to have had the honor to call her a dear friend and shall miss her terribly. Thank you, Judith, we all love you.
Jim and Diana Ryon
February 9, 2008
Judy was a wonderful person who will live in our memory for many years to come. May she abide in Christ's presence forever.
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