Obituary of Judith Alice Katz

Judith Alice Katz, 83, passed away on April 13, 2023 at the Rockleigh Jewish Home. Judy was born on May 6, 1939 in Newark to Abraham and Frieda Barhash and grew up in South Orange, NJ graduating from Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ, in 1957. She graduated from Muhlenberg College with a degree in psychology in 1961. Judy had a passion for reading, books, and sharing knowledge and had a long career as a librarian.

She joined the Fairleigh Dickinson University library staff in 1968 as a trainee. After receiving her Master's in Library Science from Rutgers University in 1978 she ascended the ranks of the FDU, Teaneck library eventually serving as the head reference librarian, Assistant Director of Public Services, and then Acting Director before retiring in 2002. She also volunteered and worked part-time at several area libraries including the Dumont, Teaneck and St. Peter's University libraries.

Judy was an enthusiastic folk dancer and was active with The Palisades Folk Dancers group and others where she had many close friends. She also enjoyed every aspect of her retirement job at the Pace University Library in Manhattan from the daily banter with the bus drivers and coffee vendors who knew her by name, to her lovely and supportive colleagues. Working at Pace kept her young at heart and helped her continue to avidly enjoy the City's theatre and museums until her second retirement four years ago.

Judy was famous for her pies and cookies and was adored by her grandchildren Lauren and Natalie for her story telling abilities. She loved gardening, pond swimming, and folk music and was a nature and conservation advocate. She loved word play and games and had a wry sense of humor; every Saturday you could hear her heartily laughing along with Click and Clack, the Tappet brothers.

Judy, a long-time member of the Temple Emeth congregation in Teaneck where she lived for many years, is survived by her sister Leah Barhash, daughter Joanna and her partner Todd Fenton, son Daniel, daughter-in-law Lisa, grandchildren Lauren and Natalie and former husband Michael Katz. Judy is preceded in death by her soul-mate Al Zwicker whose children and grandchildren Andrew, Carrie, Max, Louisa, Matt, Sophia, and Samantha she also adored. Judy will be deeply missed by friends and family. In lieu of flowers her memory can be honored with a donation to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org), the Flat Rock Brook Nature Center (flatrockbrook.org/donate), the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater (clearwater.org), or the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

There will be a Religious Service in Eden Memorial Chapels, Inc., 327 Main Street, Fort Lee, NJ at 11:00 AM.