Judith Tucker
Norwood, Mass. — Judith “Judy” Read Tucker passed away peacefully in her home in Norwood on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018, with her family by her side.
Judy was born in Springfield, Mass. to her parents Alfred and Dorothy Read. She attended The Children’s Hospital School of Nursing in Boston earning her certification as a registered nurse. She later returned to her academic studies and graduated from Connecticut College with a bachelor of arts degree, cum laude, in early childhood education.
She met Walter in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts while searching for the Minoan Snake Goddess statue for an art history assignment, a story she loved to retell. They married three months later in Longmeadow, Mass. and their 60 years together is an inspiration to all her family.
After moving to Connecticut and raising her children, Judy’s love for the nursing profession took her back to work in the New London Convalescent Home where she rose to director of nursing. She was continuously motivated by the opportunity to care for those in need while also supporting and training the next generation of nurses in southeastern Connecticut.
Judy was an enthusiastic local volunteer in her community. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for over 50 years. She was an active volunteer docent at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme satisfying her lifelong love of the arts. And her passion for the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team was unwavering.
Judy was a congregant of St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Old Lyme and even after she was unable to attend services she continued to support the mission of the church to reach out and support those in need in the community and around the world.
Judy is survived by her loving husband, Walter; her sister and brother-in-law, Joanna and Herb Schurmann of Chatham, Mass.; her sons and daughters-in-law, Warren Tucker and Mary Sutton-Smith of Hartland, Vt., Gordon and Karin Tucker of Kentfield, Calif. and John Tucker and Mary Lee Fleishell of Medfield, Mass. She also loved and cherished her 10 grandchildren.
A memorial service celebrating Judy’s life will be held in the spring. A notice to family and friends will be sent when specifics are known.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Judy’s name may be sent to the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern Connecticut, 403 N. Frontage Road, Waterford, CT 06385.