A Pioneer in her Field

Fascinated by the intellectual challenges in this burgeoning field, Judy was able to put her talents to work writing diagnostic programs for an experimental line of computers called UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) shortly upon graduating. In the years to follow, Judy would work in different capacities for multiple computer-related companies and agencies.

Some of her accomplishments include programming large displays of military information, coding war game simulations, coding systems for the U.S. Army, testing early email programs and looking at solutions for protecting classified information. Judy even co-wrote a research paper on a mechanism to track access to computer files called “Beyond the Pale of MAC and DAC.”

“I’ve really enjoyed my working life,” says Judy. “I always worked with very smart people, had interesting projects, and was never bored.”

In her personal life, Judy’s achievements are just as impressive. As a young mother, she ran the first food program of the ecumenical organization ALIVE in Alexandria, Virginia. Every day, she would receive calls from churches with the names of families who were in need. Then, she would pack the food and call on volunteers to deliver it.

However, that was just the beginning of Judy’s relationship with charitable causes. Following the death of their daughter Carol in 2008, Judy and her late husband Phillip began to fund a Mentored Investigator Award for the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance in her memory. Additionally, Judy and Phillip funded several scholarships to aide students at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boston University and Saint Elizabeth University.

“Both of us place great importance on the value of education,” says Judy. “Phil worked his way through college by driving a cab and I had a full scholarship to SEU.

In 2019, the pair established the Class of 1960 scholarship at SEU, in hopes of offering all students the ability to earn an education.

“I am the oldest of eight children and never would have been able to afford SEU without the scholarship I was granted,” recalls Judy. “And SEU gave me a great education, deepened my Catholic faith, provided a strong example of resourceful women and was a place where I gained life-long friendships.”