Judy Herrick Richardson

Judy Herrick Richardson passed away peacefully on Dec. 3, 2019. She is survived by husband Jim Richardson of Pittsburgh, PA, daughter Heather and Jim Charron and their sons Alexander & Aidan of Mt. Lebanon, PA, son James and Carrol Richardson of Penn Hills, PA, her brother Douglas Herrick and Nancy Webster of Owasco, NY and many cousins, nieces & nephews. Judy was born on May 29, 1939 and began her life with her parents Kenneth and Jessie Herrick in the Village of Owasco on the Finger Lakes in New York. She met her husband James B. Richardson III on a blind date in 1957 when she was a freshman at the New York State University at Potsdam and he a sophomore at St. Lawrence University. They were married in 1961 and had a loving marriage for 58 years. Educated as an elementary school teacher, she taught at schools near Syracuse University and University of Illinois, supporting her husband who was finishing his doctoral degree. They came to Pittsburgh in 1967 when her husband accepted a position as a professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh. She was an integral part of his duties, which increased when he also became part-time curator for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. They lived in Regent Square and raised their children Heather Mary and James B. IV in a community of friends whose children became their close friends. Judy was a nurturing mother who always had a smile and laugh for all occasions. Judy was a volunteer in the Pittsburgh chapter of the League of Women Voters, the Women’s Committee of Regent Square and was Vice President of the Regent Square Civic Association. She was hired as the coordinator for distribution of the Carnegie Treasures Cookbook for Carnegie Museum of Art Women’s Committee. The loves of her life were her grandchildren Alexander (Alec) and Aidan Charron. When she was with them her face lit up; she was a proud grammy! In the summers she loved to be at the family home in East Chop on Martha’s Vineyard, MA. She looked forward to the sun, the beach, her flowers and visiting family & friends. A memorial service will be held at Mount Lebanon Evangelical Presbyterian Church (255 Washington Rd., Mt. Lebanon, PA 15216) on Monday Dec. 16, 2019 at 4 p.m. with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Museum (Collections) at 151 Lagoon Pond Rd., Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, or Mt. Lebanon EP Church (the Friends of Music Fund) at 255 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15216.

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