I was a vertebrate paleontology student of Judith's at the University of Colorado. She was my role model for a woman in science.

Worked with Judy years ago. Great gal!

I was in Oregon when Judith died and would have attended the memorial service in Belen NM. Met Judith and Mary Ann when they lived in North Boulder on Violet in the early 1980's. Remember discussing that earth was a self regulating entity...Gaia. Tears are in my eyes

I've just learned of Judith's death, but she has been, and always will be, in my heart. She guided me, patiently, into my chosen field, and supported me as we both passed through from fraught times in our lives. She helped me open my eyes to so many things, from paleoecology (hours in her office in Hunter), and the infinite possibilities of woman. I didn't always follow her advice (we all make mistakes), but I think that she would appreciate my life in a village in Yucatan, and it's been wonderful to read about her life in New Mexico, where she clearly continued to grow and seek and find. Nos vemos, amiga.

I learned of Judith’s death a few months ago and was moved to see if there was a memorial for her. So glad that this was posted. Judith came into my life when I was 16 years old, when my mother Kari Kybele met her and my family moved in with her family in Boulder Colorado. What happens to us in life is so influenced by our environment, Judith was a strong force that altered my environment, my self-esteem and gave me a sense that I could accomplish more, then up to that time, I could see for myself. As a struggling teenager she provided a shining light for me that resided in our home as well as in her office at the University of Colorado where I would go and visit her while attending Boulder High School. With her influence I went from a teenage runaway, to attending CU in Boulder, to eventually obtaining my masters degree in Nutrition of Sciences. I loved her dearly and loved living with her children as family. I was humbled and altered by her strength and love. Thank you Judith for shinning bright so others could see clearly.

With love and a heavy heart I say goodbye to my cousin. Judith was a woman who could light up a room with her smile, a listener, storyteller and so full of knowledge. Growing up I loved hearing her stories and adventures from my Aunt Jo and Uncle Homer and later Patrick. Although I lost touch the past few years ,I thought of Judith and Mary Ann often. The world is a better place because of Judith . Her discoveries, her passion and love of nature live on with all that knew her.
My family and I send love and condolences to you all. May your memories make your heart sing as you think of her.

This morning we went outside and the photo shows the first morning glory bloom to blossom this summer...from an 4 yr. old packet of seeds! I have added the picture to the photo gallery.

You'll see Butters in the background looking up at the sky...and we immediately thought that maybe Judith had something to do with such a glorious moment!

Been thinking of you...a sacred day for you and Jude!

When I think of Judith, I see her kind engaging eyes and warm toothy smile. I met Judith at UC Boulder, where she became my friend and professor as I began working toward a doctoral degree. It was there that she introduced me to my partner, who is still my partner in life. Thank you for that Judith! I remember fondly the conversations we shared. It really didn’t matter what we talked about. Judith was interested, thoughtful, open, and curious. I loved that about her. My heart is with you Mary Ann.

My best memory of Judith is of being a really young adult, naked in a hot tub with Judith and Maryanne — young enough that being naked in a hot tub was very exciting; old enough to just be starting to make adult relationships with my extended family members. I remember talking to them about sex and relationships and coming out and upheaval and pain and family; everything I could think of to ask about.

What I remember is that Judith seemed to think so hard about what she could say that would be the most honest possible answer. She was so candid, and that made me feel so profoundly respected (a coveted feeling for that age). Most of all, it made me feel so welcomed into her life and heart. It was clear that she genuinely wanted to know who I really was, and in return, she would tell me who she really was, and then we’d really know each other, and that’s how it was going to be.

It’s quite a rare thing to be able to make somebody totally, 100% sure that you are loved by them. Judith made me feel like that.

My Judy patootie my girl
Oh how we have so much memories together I was truly blessed to have you in my life. I always loved coming into work and seen you walking around or alseep on the recliner because you didn't wanna sleep in ur bed. I had the joy of waking you up in the morning to get you ready for the day where you would remind me how horrible it was that I was getting you up but all I had to say was "but Judy patootie I love you" always got a smile. I loved dressing you in purple and pink I would even wear the same color to match you people sure got a kick out of that but they all knew Jo and Judith were besties. I'm sure gonna miss our good times and our disagreements💜..most of all ur hugs and kiss on cheek..love you always and forever

I first met Judith when I was a young teenager subsequent to her marriage to my cousin, John Van Couvering. She always had a smile and sunny disposition. Such a beloved scholar, wife and mother will be missed greatly, but her memory will be with us always.

Dear Mary Ann, I just this morning learned of your sadness when I was at The Retreat. While there are never any "ups" to this illness, only "downs", it is still so sad to lose those we love. I believe that most of the residents at The Retreat have many accomplishments, and I often think about how all that knowledge is locked up in them forever. But, certainly Judith had her share of accomplishments, most impressive! I am glad that some of that knowledge is encompassed in books so that it will live on, even when her mind could no longer dwell on it. My condolences to you and to the rest of her family. I will miss seeing you at The Retreat as we became a "little family" with our many visits there. May you feel God's peace at this time.

It is hard to miss that smile. which is reflected in those of her children. She has a great and accomplished family who will miss her very much. But, part of her lives on in them.

Whenever we think of Judith we can’t stop smiling. She and David laughed a lot together. Anything could set them off. She will be dearly missed.

I first met Judith at Henrik and Elizabeth's wedding in London. I remember her being very kind to me and my girlfriend (at the time - now wife) Elin. We then met a couple of times more over the years and the last time she was in Sweden she was very much affected by her disease and did not really remember me or who I was. Nevertheless she was still very nice and I very much enjoyed her company.

Deepest condolences for your loss from me and my family.

In her memory me and my family, Henriks sister Gunilla and family, my mom Barbro and my dad Nils and his wife Ulla has made a donation to The Nature Conservancy - a cause also feel strongly for.

Thought prepared for the Memorial Service...

With the burial happening so soon after my return from Kenya, I’m not able to be with you in person. This I greatly regret, as it would be wonderful to rejoin those I have known across the decades to celebrate Judith’s life. Many of you know her as “Jude,” but to me she will always be Judith, the only Judith.

Tears welled up when I saw her picture and read the brief history of her life on the website. She has meant so much to so many of us, a beacon for young women struggling to make it in science or just to be respected for who they are. Judith was my role model for combining scientific creativity and motherhood. She showed it was possible to do field research in Africa with 4(!) young children AND get a Ph.D. AND be a pioneer in the field of paleoecology. All of this she did, so it appeared to me, with grace, humor, and the highest standards of fairness and humanity. What incredible strength, intellegence, and love she combined in one soul.

Judith’s contributions to the field of paleontology were great, and they have been appreciated by paleoecologists who followed her lead in characterizing extinct vertebrates in terms of their ecological roles. Many of us still read, admire, and cite her scientific papers. She was a pioneer in vertebrate paleontology who saw beyond the field’s traditional focus on classifying species according to their evolutionary relationships. With Peter Andrews, she formulated ways to understand ancient communities of animals in terms of ecology and guild structure. Her ideas were seminal and are reflected in many careers and journal articles that are current today.

In reflecting on Judith’s impact on my life and those of others, I realize that the true extent of her spirit and influence cannot be measured. The sparks she struck with people have become a living stream, propagating outward to give strength and inspiration to so many other lives.

My dear Judith, go well, back into the earth where you rejoin the wellspring of life and are at peace. May your family and friends take solace in your living legacy, which is such a beautiful and treasured part of all of us.

I was introduced to Judith in the fall of 1974 by Dr. Peter Robinson of the University of Colorado Museum. It was in the hallway into the Geology Section of the old Hunter Science Building that I met Judith (she was checking her mail as I recall). I do not remember much of that meeting (it is 45 years after all!), but she made me feel welcomed. That open acceptance was characteristic of Judith that I witnessed time and again as we, her friends, all know.
Judith started at the University of Colorado in the fall of 1972, I believe, so was still fairly new at the job she I met her. She got her undergraduate degree at the University of California in Berkeley. She and her then husband John then went on to get their PhDs at Cambridge University in England, while also raising their children. Judith dissertation was on 15 million year old fossil tilapia fishes from Kenya. Why tilapia? The project was recommended to her by Louis Leakey based on a site on Rusinga Island in Lake Victoria, Kenya. The site was unusual that the fossil fish were mostly preserved three-dimensionally, rather than flat as a pancake as they are usually found. Despite this early work on fishes, she actually was more interested in the ancient ecology, or paleoecology, of fossil mammals. She was especially interested in mammal communities and how they transformed in response to climate change during the interval between 5 and 23 million years ago. It was during this time that the global climate began to cool and become drier, resulting in a shift from forests to grasslands. As she formulated her ideas about paleoecology, she became very much influenced by James Lovelock's ideas about the Earth as living organism, in which all life and the physical environment were interdependent, with one affecting the other. For Judith, this concept of Gaia [guy-ah] was Earth as Mother to all life. Today, Gaia is pretty much accepted in the biological and geological sciences, but she was way ahead of many of her peers.
As Judith ideas about paleoecology slowly developed during the 1970s and 1980s, she began to think about a book on the subject. Unlike most books on the subject, she wanted to emphasize Gaia. I guess you could say it was PaleoGaia. She did not do much with the book until she retired with Mary Ann to Chama. Chama is not exactly a social or cultural hotspot, having a population of a little over 1000. With so few distractions, it was actually the ideal spot to work on her book. She had nearly completed her book when I was contacted by her kids several years ago to help Judith finish it. I am disappointed in myself that I was unable to complete tweaking and updating parts of it so that Judith could hold a published copy of the book in her hands. Surprisingly, Judith’s own contributions to paleoecology are underplayed in the manuscript, so I have had to rework those sections. I have also added the more recent works of others who used Judith’s publications to build upon. It is the classic case of “If I can see farther, it is because I stand on the shoulder of giants.” I found over 1100 citations in Google Scholar in which other scholar referenced Judith's work. Clearly she had a major impact in science that will last far into the future. I think Judith would get a kick out one publication I found that references her scientific work. It is "Anatomy of Love" by Helen Fisher.

Judith, your passing is a loss to science. I will miss you.

Judith was an amazing women. My fondest memories are the times from Northern New Mexico when at the dinner table. The jokes, the laughter would fill your heart with joy. There would always be us two cracking jokes and just having a grand time. It was an honor knowing Judith and I will be forever thankful for those memories. You will be missed but never forgotten.

I'm saddened to hear of the passing of a beautiful lady. Judith was many things to many people and we will miss her.

In the attic of a rustic cabin, tucked in the corner of a rural New Mexican town, was a study. A soft arm chair surrounded by papers, a desk covered in journals, walls full to the brim with books. I knew I wanted a room full of words just like this when I grew up, when I got a PhD. I felt so honoured to be let into this sanctuary, to glimpse chaos and genius embodied in 4 walls. Judith taught me having a passion for learning never ends, that science is for women, and to use the middle finger liberally. I will never forget her floppy hats, her smile or her sarcasm.

Thank you for sharing your pictures and videos! I loved her life!!

We are so sorry for your families loss. It was an honor to have met Judith and Mary Ann when we visited my mother Mary Davis. Judith was so smart and full of life and was willing to share her knowledge with anyone that would take the time and patience to listen to her. She made a huge impression on myself and my daughter. I wish your family peace and love.

My grandmother taught me to cherish the earth, to see past the obvious into the sacred and subtle, the deep effects of prejudice, the scale of the earth and time, the beauty of looking out for family, and more recently the value of memories. I have immeasurable gratitude towards the love, wisdom and passion she shared with me.

Every summer from the ages of 5 until 12 I went to Grandma and Bobu's (Bobu is my name for Mary Ann). Those summers playing with dinosaurs in the sandbox outside their house, hanging out with their Yorkie Booshka, reading dinosaur books and Beano comics with Grandma, meeting and hanging with some of the local youth, learning piano (Fur Elise) with Bobu on their upright, going for walks with Judith in the beautiful nature around their house, catching candy at the Chama Days parade, going for ice cream and renting movies at Patsy's shop.... My time there has stayed with me as a part of my childhood I am deeply grateful for. No matter where I moved around the country I would always be able to come back to Chama. I might never really know just how important the time I spent there was to me.

Grandma Judith has been a fighter as long as I've known her, constantly throwing up fisticuffs and wanting to wrestle. She was deeply intelligent, deeply sensitive, and deeply hurt by a world that was not ready to accept her in her time. Her, and people like her, laid the groundwork for women and LGBTQ people today, and while none of the problems are close to solved, she made room for the growth we have made in acceptance and equality. She and Mary Ann were able to be married in 2008, so she was able to see some of the results of her lifelong struggle against systemic persecution.

She had a deep spiritual connection to Gurumayi, and when I was younger, tried to communicate the importance of a spiritual life to my rational mind. I think she would be proud of the spiritual growth I've undergone, and I am glad I could communicate to her how grateful I am for laying the groundwork for me before she left. She believed in reincarnation, so I wish her soul the rest it has earned before traveling to where and when it is needed once more. I am grateful her love for nature has been heard and respected by her family, and she will be put to rest in the earth in a way that will let her become one with the cycles she has studied for so long.

Know the longest breath,
Released in finality,
Leaving dreams for sleep.

Judith has been a major player in my life for 40 yrs. We have laughed and cried together. I have learned much from her. Our memories together will live in me and I am so grateful for our relationship. She has slowly slipped away this year and the last few months have been difficult for her. Rest in peace dear friend.

Oh, my dear friend, how I will miss knowing you are still on the planet. I cherish every memory since I met you 43 years ago. You gave me a beautiful blown glass bowl with planets and stars in it for a birthday a long time ago; it seems even more real now--- as if you have at last joined them, expanding into the universe. And resting among your beloved rocks as well.
Mary Ann, David, Anne, Elizabeth Jane----big hugs for you all.
Much love,
Sarah

What beautiful and moving tributes Judith’s family and friends are leaving. They shine a light on a lovely generous woman who had the courage to live the life she wanted and at the same time help others to do their same, to be brave, and to find their own paths. She left behind four beautiful children, her loving wife, Maryann, five grandchildren, and of course her ex -John - with whom I have shared my life and with whom she maintained a lasting bond and deep friendship over many years. This is a hard time for those closet to her, but you have each other and can be calmed knowing that the suffering she endured in these past few months is over. Peace and love, Enid

My heart goes out to all who knew Judith. She brought joy to those around her. Thank you Mary Ann for being such a true partner even in the most difficult times. Rest peacefully Judith----you are missed.

I only met Judith a year ago but in that short wink of time she touched me profoundly. Through her eyes, I was carried back to a time in my own life that needed mending, compassionate understanding, and softness. I loved her from the first meeting, Mary Ann, too. I love the love that exists between them that will never be removed. My heart was pierced by Judith’s laugh and joyful curiosity, her sense of humor and love of beauty, the firmness of her desire to extinguish the harm and harshness of life. I am grateful to have spent the time with her I did. She left an imprint of love and healing. Thank you, Judith. I am in awe of you.

It doesn’t feel possible that it was only two days ago on Sunday at around 11 am, while we were saying goodbye to those still on hand as the family reunion wound down at Stacy and Spencer’s mini-ranch in Grants Pass, that Anne called from the “Retreat” memory care home just outside of Albuquerque to tell her brothers, her son and me that Judith was unconscious and soon to die.

The five hour drive back to Oakland seemed to pass in no time as we booked flights to ABQ online and messaged back and forth to Anne and Elizabeth, who had been spending the last week on watch. Malcolm and I got the same flight early Monday morning, David came later, Barry booked to come from Vermont, Tony decided to wait until the funeral. The afternoon at The Retreat, sitting in Judy’s room or moving outside when the nurses tended to her, went on forever. She lay motionless, mouth agape, as we talked - always there, never there.

Finally we left for this 2-story 4 bedroom, well furnished “BnB” in in a shady park that Elizabeth had booked for all of us, stocking up on groceries en route. David cooked a wonderful chicken vegetable curry. The kids arranged their night time vigils at The Retreat and I went to bed.

At 3:30 am David banged open my door. “Dad, get up! Mom’s stopped breathing!” But by the time Barry and I tottered down the stairs the house was empty and the door stood open. We tried to get a cab - nobody answered the phone. I tried to get Uber but the software refused to get beyond “select your location”. Barry called Anne at the home and eventually she came for us, and to get a change of clothes.

On Friday morning, Judy’s battered leftovers will be returned to earth in a “natural burial” at La Puerta graveyard some 5 miles further away, without embalming or funeral home ceremony, in an open carrier, shrouded in a blanket made by her daughters. We go tomorrow to select which flowering desert plant will be rooted on the burial site, and to choose a rock that will be engraved with her name and memory. If they’ll let us, we will set a ring of stones around the site as well.

As luck would have it, Malcolm is my size and was able to fit me out with a dark suit and a tie. There will be a graveside service and a wake afterwards. How is everyone here? Moved, loving, quiet. Feeling sad to think of her gone, relieved to have her wracking descent finally reach an end. And in just two surreal days, for me.

I have loved Judith (and Mary Ann) from the minute I first met them. We were fast and intimate friends and I always felt welcomed to visit hang out and laugh together. I loved how Judith loved her life and was always thinking about something higher and deeper, writing her last text book, thinking about the next book. It was to be about rocks in the 4 corners area and the history contained within. If I remember correctly. Judith loved the planet and everyone in it. She really felt a part of the whole human race, all colors, nationalities and creeds, and had a deep sense of the injustices in this country. And of course, Kenya, she always loved and talked about Kenya. She must have left a little bit of her heart over there in Africa. But Judith had plenty of heart left-over, and guts and a strong desire for reconciliation between all people. I think I know how she would be responding to today's political environment. She'd be PISSED! And ready to do something about it! Maybe it's a blessing that she got to avoid thinking about how bad everything has gotten recently.

Mary Ann, a saint, a human, delicate and resilient . I will forever admire how well you loved Judith. All through the years, especially these last ones, these hardest ones. Thank you, thank you from Judith and everyone who knew and loved her. She was so lucky to have you! <3

She was my professor - when I went to Boulder we bonded immediately - I knew little and she put up with me teaching me every day in an continuous interaction - she paid attention to me as she knew I had passion bones and evolution - I admired her knowledge and activities in paleontology - she always had time for me - we went to her house so often almost uninvited and became part of her family - we payed with her kids - we got closer to Anne and David - once she gave me permission to bury elk heads in her yard - another time I buried coyotes and a mountain lion - we went together in several expeditions - camped collected fossils - and shared stories at night by the camp fire - my dissertation was the fossils from Samos in Greece - yes she did come there to see the geology - I was so excited to show her my findings and she slept on the rocks there - one time I complained my apartment was too small and she solved my problem "get a bigger one she said" - as I progressed, I always told her of my discoveries, the last time I saw her at Anne's I did not know and kept talking to her about anatomy and evolution but then Anne was crying - that is how I found out --- Judith was an incredible listener she cared and listened to all of our problems and science - Judith had great visions about the ecology and animal evolution in Africa - yes were did go to Maboco in Kenya and excavated together -she knew all the major scientists on a first name basis - On Maboco we boiled a dead rotting monkey to collect the bones - later we found out the the smell had penetrated all the laundry sheets which were hanging to dry downwind from the monkey activity - we all slept is smelly sheets that night - Her and John argued constantly about their science as they worked together in the same office space - I witnessed her life changes - John moved to our apartment to sleep and live with us for a while - I was young trying to understand situations - and I had my own problems - So many great memories!! When I graduated she gave me an important book and signed it - I still have it on my desk - life brings us in new situations but the past learning from her so much is deeply in my mind - I still remember her vividly lecturing in my class - the class and Judith that started me in my career - In the examinations I was never able to answer her questions correctly (my dysfunctional scattered brain) - she said to me "you do not answer my questions" but I will pass you because you have passion and care - Now I am an older accomplished and internationally respected scientist - I have many discoveries - Thank you Judith!!

I am so sad to hear that my friend Judith passed away. I met Judith at my Ice Cream shop. She was a beautiful lady and would always have stories to tell me. I will miss you Judith and I will always remember you would go into the shop and have a hot fudge sundae (your favorite). Also, thank you for always caring about myself and my mother Dorothy. May you Rest In Peace Judith.❤️

What can I say about my Mom. She taught me the deep love and experience of the Earth, of nature. When I see rocks and am deeply touched by them, I am seeing through her eyes. When I feel the trees whispering and talking to me, that is her gift. She taught her students the same deep experience of nature, and affected them deeply.

My Mom was aware of the deep injustices of the patriarchy long before #metoo, and railed against the system. The injuries inflicted by humanity on her precious Earth filled her with grief and anger. She was an incredibly sensitive soul. I remember she even stopped her field work because she could no longer cut into the Earth.

When I was nineteen I was lost and hurting, my mother brought me to my spiritual path that has nourished me ever since. When she discovered Catholicism we used to go to churches together and both of us felt the subtle energy, the light, emanating from these holy places.

I can't say all was rainbows and unicorns in my relationship with my Mom. Her own transformation and growth sometimes came at a personal cost to me, and many of the demons I struggle with were formed through some of those times. But who knows what windy paths take us to wholeness, and as we both grew older I was able to connect with her in love and spend some very quality time with her as her shadow faded.

I was looking for a poem that reflected my feelings of who my mother is. I couldn't find one, so I thought I'd write one.

----
I stand in stillness, under vast blue skies
The rocks sing in silence, a song of power, a song of love, a song of light
As I walk across the land, the earth sings to me underfoot and echoes into the silence

This Earth carries all of us, holds all of us with infinite Love
It is a love ancient, wise, giving, nourishing

Dear Earth, take back your great lover, take her deep into your heart
Hold her and care for her, wash her with peace and comfort
She comes to you now, this passionate lover
Thank you for giving her to us for some time

The Judith I remember best was full of fun and mischief. We liked to make each other laugh. When I heard that she had died the only thing I could think of doing was chanting for her, a song that we both knew and had sung together and is supposed to help guide a soul who has crossed to the other side. It is very long and while I chanted I kept remembering special times that we shared together. Towards the end of the song I really felt her presence with me, she was happy and light and laughing again. I slowed down my singing because I didn't want the song to end, I wanted to stay with her for a while. While the tears flowed I felt her love and forgiveness and light. I am so glad that she can be herself again, and I miss her.

Where to begin. Judith has been a part of my life for so long. I lived in her house and was fortunate to have been introduced by Maryann. I could never share the depths of her life’s work but could share her love of living and laughing. She was so generous and kind to me and probably understood my journey more than I will know. I will always treasure my time with her and consider her a great friend and teacher. I was the lucky one.

Although my last visual memory of Judith is of the day I helped move her into The Retreat, I am grateful that my mind naturally goes to the moments I shared with her at her home in Chama, sitting on the sofa, touching all of her rocks, reading a book with her, and working a jigsaw puzzle. That my occasional presence also gave Mary Ann a chance to get out of the house, do some shopping, or simply have some time to herself, was an additional sweet blessing. Judith's life was so rich, yet the curse of this disease is that she could not spend her last years reliving her memories, so the families she leaves behind will have to look back for her. I am delighted to read of the relatively unusual burial arrangements. They are testament to how well her family knows her--she will be so tickled. Farewell Judith. Here's to a full life, well lived.

I would love to go and say a final goodbye to my Lady, but I know that I rather remember her the way I saw her last. I absolutely loved every minute I spent with her. I have too many stories, and it would take me a life time.

On one occasion we took a little walk down to the Chamita River right by the house, as we got closer to the water we heard a noise, I looked closer to where it was coming from, and it was a big bear. I quickly grabbed her and told her we had to go back because there was a bear. She tells me “I like bears” trying to pull me that way. I had to practically pull her away. Needless to say, I put my life in the line. And that’s only one of many stories. I loved our many reading times, looking at rocks, books, socks, (she had a thing for socks) and so much more. I’ve missed her more then you can ever imagine. We sang “you are my sunshine “ almost everyday. 😢😢😢

There is peace for my mother at last. Her peace is for the ages, a reward for and a respite from her years of struggle. She lived a life of the mind, but connected always to her warrior quest for the triumph of nature, harmony, justice and love. She understood the natural world deeply, its underground processes and its eons-long tendencies and its strange love of life, and tirelessly she fought those who would cheapen and destroy it; she was a manifestation of what she thought the world should be. For us, her children and her students and all of those who knew her, who felt the warmth of her mind and the strength of her commitment and the peace of her love, her passion is not ended but only renewed each time we think of her.

Her legacy to me, her son and friend, is the determination to say what is true and to stand for what is right, and the strength to protect what is weak and frightened. It is the core of me, and it is from her. I have been missing her more and more as over the course of her long illness she has slipped away, and I have had a long time to say my farewells, but it just doesn't help at all. Now that she is gone I am bereft and weeping, and so is the world. The moment of her passing is when I need her most.

Goodbye my cherished beautiful mama, I love you every moment of my every day. May the peace you dreamed of be yours forever.