Judith Oppenheimer

1939 - 2016

Judith Ward Oppenheimer, 76, passed away at home on March 23, 2016, surrounded by her family. Born in Portland, ME, on May 14, 1939, Judie was the daughter of the late Hadley Stinson Ward and the late Elizabeth Craigie Ward. She attended Cape Elizabeth High School and graduated with honors from Bradford College in 1959. After studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, she graduated from Kathryn Gibbs Secretarial School in New York City. Judie and Staunton T. Oppenheimer were wed on August 18, 1962, and shared in 53 years of marriage. They lived in several cities during Stauntons career as a telecommunications executive, finally settling in Wellesley Hills, MA, where they resided until 1998. They retired to Hilton Head Island, SC, where they became members of Long Cove Club. They are also members of Wildcat Cliffs Country Club in Highlands, NC. Judie worked in the brokerage business before becoming a loving mother. She considered her greatest accomplishment to be raising her two beautiful sons, Douglas (Baltimore, MD) and Jeffrey (Medford, MA). With her radiant personality and her innate gift for making others feel welcome and appreciated, Judie savored spending time with her family and her wide circle of friends from all facets of her life. Judie was involved with several charities including the Arthritis Foundation and the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and hosted fundraisers in Boston and Hilton Head. Through the AJGA, she was an advocate for the ACE Grant Program, which encourages youth to develop leadership skills and pursue college scholarships through golf. She was also instrumental in helping to develop the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate Golf Tournament. In addition to her husband and sons, Judie is survived by her sister, Susan Ward-Baldwin of Placerville, CA; her brother-in-law and niece, Ralph Baldwin and Jen Baldwin; and Jeffreys wife, Heather Davidson. A celebration of Judies life will be held on Friday, April 1, at noon at St. Lukes Church on Hilton Head Island, SC. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the America Junior Golf Association ACE Grant (AJGA Foundation, 1980 Sports Club Drive, Braselton, GA 30517 or ajga.org) or to Hospice Care of the Lowcountry (P.O. Box 3827, Bluffton, SC 29910 or hospicecarelc.org). Please ensure that memorial contributions are accompanied by Judies name. Arrangements are under the care of Keith Funeral Home of Hilton Head.