Judith B. Hollinshead, Obituary

OBITUARIES

Judith B. Hollinshead, beloved wife, mother, sister and friend, passed away peacefully on April 14th, 2023 at age 89 due to natural causes. Judy was born Judith Carpenter Brown on November 3, 1933 in New York City, and grew up in Cedarhurst, Long Island and New York City. She spent adventure-filled summers in Cragsmoor, NY playing and teaching tennis, and actively participating in musical gatherings with family and with the mountain community. Judy was a talented musician. She played classical piano throughout her life, and had a beautiful alto voice. At musical gatherings she delighted family and friends with her guitar and spontaneous harmonizing. In addition to being an excellent tennis player, she was on the field hockey team at Lawrence School, Madeira and Vassar.

Judy graduated high school from the Madeira school where she excelled in academics, music – including voice, guitar and piano, and athletics. She then attended Vassar college where she was an active member of the G-stringers folk singing group and graduated at the top of her class in 1955 with Phi Beta Kappa honors, notably achieved in her Junior year. She had chosen to take her Junior year abroad in France, and her intellect and perfect ear enabled her to quickly master the French language, a skill which she treasured throughout her life.

On June 25, 1955, Judy married husband Byron S. Hollinshead, whom she met in Europe during her Junior year abroad. Together they raised two children, Ralph and Ellie in NYC and in Englewood, NJ, while enjoying summers in Cragsmoor in their own historic home. She sang in the choir for many years in Englewood. In her later years, she provided enduring memories for the family at her beach house (Casa Nana de la Playa) in Kure Beach, NC before settling in Chapel Hill, NC, where her close and extended family continued to gather and to stay with her for holidays and for year-round visits.

Judy was preceded in death by her husband Byron and her sisters Ruth DeTar and Ellie Brown. She is survived by her sister Harriet Borton (David), daughter Ellie, son Ralph (Rose), grandsons Stephen and Henry Hollinshead and Reynard Willier, as well as many dear nieces and nephews.

Judy was a most beautiful woman who cared deeply for others and touched us all in the many different chapters of her life: distinguished scholar/musician/athlete, loving wife and mother, devoted sister, friend, and proud grandmother. Even when she wasn’t feeling her best, she never dwelled on her challenges, instead always asking for the latest news on everyone and checking on their wellbeing. We will miss her dearly. Her compassionate, loyal and beautiful spirit will live on in our memories and in our hearts forever.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her name to the Cragsmoor Historical Society: cragsmoorhistoricalsociety.com. More information can be found and online condolences/donations made at CremationSocietyNC.com.

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