Judy Moore
Judith Margaret (Manwell) Moore, 82, social worker, and widow of the Rev. Christopher Moore, died in Northampton, MA on December 16, 2016.
Judy grew up in Plattsburgh, NY. Graduating from Oberlin College in 1956, she taught English for three years in Taiwan, then took her MSW at the University of Chicago. She made a career as a social worker with children and families at the Salvation Army.
A birthright Unitarian, she joined First Unitarian in Chicago, where she would meet and marry the Rev. Christopher Moore, founder of the famed Chicago Children’s Choir. After his death in 1987, she volunteered for a time with Prof. Ron Engel at Meadville-Lombard. There she discovered a year-long program which took her around the world in 1994-95 with a group of much younger students, studying environmental issues.
Judy’s heart was always in New England, where her family had roots. Inspired by a quest to reduce her environmental footprint, she teamed with her son and only child, Jonathan, a skilled carpenter as well as artist and musician, to build an energy efficient earth-berm house set into the hills of Cummington, MA, in her beloved Berkshires, where she retired.
Very much an individualist, Judy could be cantankerous, yet she was always a people person, keeping in close touch with friends across the country as well as family and neighbors. She is survived by Jonathan, his wife Julie, foster son Paul Robertson, and grandsons Christopher (7) and Esai (1), as well as a younger brother, David, of Plattsburgh. Condolences may be sent to Jonathan and Julie Weismoore at 50 South Maple Street, Bellingham MA 02019.
A memorial service was held at the Village Church in Cummington on January 28, 2016. Another will be held at First Unitarian in Chicago on Saturday, May 27, 2017, in conjunction with the gala 60th anniversary of the Choir.