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Judith Marie (Judy) Strong died at age 78 on October 13, 2018, in Hollywood, CA. She transferred to St. Louis Park High School in the middle of our senior year, so not all of us had the opportunity to spend time with her. A few of us latched on; she also had life long friends from her early days in Virginia, Minnesota, from her career in Kansas, City, MO, and her retirement to her family cabin at Lake Vermilion, MN. She spent her last few years near her daughter, Sarah Fain and granddaughter Violet, in Hollywood. She is survived by her daughter, Sarah Fain, three step-children and five step-granchildren, preceded in death by her parents and husbands Bob Fain, Jerry Carson and Gordon Scholes.
After high school she went to Stevens College in Missouri, for two years, then graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1962, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She went on to international work with the Red Cross and a year as a teacher in London before settling in Kansas City, MO. There she married, gave birth to Sarah and earned her law degree. She worked for 30 years as a US Government Federal Prosecutor out of the Kansas City, MO, office. She retired to Lake Vermilion with her husband Gordon Scholes, returning often to Kansas City to celebrate holidays with his children and grandchildren. Even after she was diagnosed with Alzheimers, Judy and Gordon enjoyed international tours to Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia and a Mediterranean Cruise. When Gordon died, Sarah moved Judy to the Sunrise of Studio City Retirement Home, where Sarah and Violet (now 6 years old) were frequent visitors.
Here's a picture of Judy and husband, Gordon Scholes.
Memories from Sarah and Judy’s SLP friends:
Her daughter Sarah: "My favorite picture of my mom, shown above at the very top of this notice, taken in the Addis Ababa airport, at the cusp of dawn. She was fearless. She was a feminist. She was loved. Off you go, Mom. Adventure awaits."
Classmate Mary Reid Brooks: "My mind is flooded with sweet memories of this really classy, thoughtful, kind friend. When Judy transferred to StLPk, Janet Lien met her first and introduced me. Then, because of her marvelous, charismatic personality, she went on to so many others in our class."
Nancy Jo Wallace Lopp: "She inspired me through out our lives-- Courage when she had heart surgery before college, making hats for our weddings (Jackie Kennedy pillboxes) guidance with divorce, death of husband. Becoming a lawyer. Pride about Sarah and later Violet. Then there was her Alzheimer’s which slowly stole her mind. She became the essence of herself. Sweet, loving and trusting."
Bev Watts Hedin: "Remembering Judy’s warm, loving, enjoying self... The sound of her voice, welcoming us friends…"
Linda Lindquist Daube:
- Judy's wild laughter joining ours at her 18th birthday party shortly after her heart surgery. Her mother was reluctant to let her come, but agreed if we promised not to let her laugh. But then something truly funny happened, and we laughed all together, loud and long.
- Visiting Judy in Islington during her year teaching in London: Jonathan, infant Andrew, and me.
- Judy's mother, horrified that her daughter had taken up sky diving, made her promise to stop this dangerous sport. So Judy switched to bungee jumping off cliffs. Or maybe it was the reverse. In any case, both activities terrified me at the time. Still do.
- And then 40 years of fun. Alzheimers invaded. Judy taught me how to deal with that, should it come to me. You tell people what is going on. It is a life lesson I hold in my heart.
These women of our class were friends for over 60 years. Judy, Nancy Jo, Linda, Bev and KC. Here's a picture of them in 2008.
At Lake Vermilion after our 50th High School Reunion: Larry Lopp and Nancy Jo Wallace Lopp, Judy Strong with husband Gordon Scholes, Linda Lindquist Daube, Gerry Bretzke (husband of KC Bretzke, who took the picture) and Bev Watts Hedin.
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