Newburgh Mayor Kennedy dies of cancer
Newburgh Mayor Judy Kennedy died Sunday, nearly two years after she was diagnosed with cancer. She was 73.
Newburgh Mayor Judy Kennedy died Sunday morning, nearly two years after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was 73.
City Manager Michael Ciaravino and Orange County Legislator Kevindaryan Lujan confirmed Kennedy’s death.
Even as she underwent treatment, Kennedy still attended City Council meetings periodically, but she made very few public appearances. Recently, a celebration was held in the Fullerton Mansion in Newburgh to commemorate her life and her tenure as mayor.
Kennedy was diagnosed with cancer in May 2016. In addition to getting chemotherapy treatments, she traveled to Mexico for alternative treatments.
Kennedy grew up on the Oregon Trail. After marrying her high school sweetheart, she left her job as a dental assistant and became
a full-time homemaker. She
turned that experience into a career as a cake decorator, where she specialized in making wedding cakes for 12 years. She also taught homemaking classes in her
local church for 10 years and played an involved role in the church by hosting fundraisers and running its youth group.
After getting divorced,
she went to college, got a degree and obtained a job in Fort Collins, Colo., where she oversaw the design and implementation of a computer system for that city’s
bus system.
She eventually moved to Newburgh and was elected to her first term as mayor in 2011. She lost the Democratic nomination while
running for her second term in 2015, but won the general election after declaring herself an independent.
Kennedy is survived by her four sons.