Judith Marie Wagner

On January 20, 2017 JUDITH MARIE WAGNER. Judi is survived by her sister, Cathleen Keplinger and her partner Joe Gay, her brother Joseph Wagner and his partner Katherine Cannon, her brother James Wagner and his wife Denise. Also survived by her son, Sean Wagner and her niece Kristina Keplinger and her son Tyler, and her niece April Wagner and her partner Thomas Stuart and their daughter Danica.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be directed in "Judi's" name to Moveable Feast, 901 North Milton Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205 or visit www.mfeast.org.

Family and friends will be received at the Lemmon Funeral Home of Dulaney Valley Inc., 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Road) Timonium, MD 21093 on Monday, January 30, 6-8pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 100 Church Lane, Cockeysville, MD 21030 on Tuesday, January 31 at 10am. Interment Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.

Judith Marie Wagner - August 15, 1953 to January 20, 2017

“Judith is a testament to the capacity of Human Beings to turn their lives around” - Dr. Joel E. Gallant, MD MPH.

Judith was born August 15, 1953 to Joan Loralew Wagner (Van Auken) and Joseph Paul Wagner in Ohio.

In 1961 - Judith moved with her mom and other siblings to Pompano Beach Florida, when Judith’s mom left her father. Judith’s mom met her step-father, Jim, who was in the horse industry, when Judith was 9 yrs. old. (Judith loved horses and could recall many of his horses, Elaine Rodney, Wil-O-Matic, Go-Getter, Henry Hanover and Judith’s horse was Miss Kitty - a beautiful grey appaloosa)

1968 - Judith and her family moved back to Timonium - Judith attended Dulaney High School and graduated in 1971. She was an excellent student and got mostly straight A’s.

Following high school, Judith attended University of Maryland, where her dream was to become a veterinarian. She had always dreamed of having a farm with many animals, especially horses, to care for. After a year at Maryland, Judith left for California and lived as a hippie for a time before returning to Maryland for good. Judith worked at a furniture store in Marin County, CA, eventually becoming a manager for the store.

Judith gave birth to a son, Sean Wagner on July 5, 1974 in San Rafael, California. When Judith returned to Maryland from California, she worked for a time at the Pancake House and then she was a “Kelly Girl” and placed at Xerox, where she worked for 2 years from 1976-1978. Judith loved being a mother and spent the first 6 1/2 years with Sean. She sadly lost custody of Sean as she herself became lost to her addiction.

Judith then became homeless and addicted in Baltimore City for a period of time. During the time of homelessness in Baltimore City, Judith contracted and was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

April 1993 - While recovering from a second back to back suicide attempt at Hopkins Psych Unit, Judith gave her life to God and begged God to please SHOW her how to live. She decided to dedicate every second of her life to serving God. Judith often has remarked that God has blessed her with many angels in her life - Dr. Joel E. Gallant, Tom Bonderenko, “her Cindi”, and many others…

Judith has been clean and sober since April 30, 1993. Judith relied heavily on the Awakenings Counseling Program - an out patient substance treatment program - for her sobriety. Awakenings became an important part of her life in May 1993 and she took the program very seriously for the rest of her life.

It was also in 1993 - that Judith met Dr. Joel E. Gallant at Johns Hopkins - Joel helped to manage Judith’s HIV/AIDS diagnosis and helped her to get her health back on track.

November 1993 - With the help of the Department of Social Services, Judith moved into her apartment with just a bed and TV during the ice storm of 1993. She also found a dining room table by the dumpster. Judith lived and cared for her apartment for the next 23 years. Judith stayed in the same apartment for 23 years and never considered moving so that Sean would always know where he could find her, if he made that choice.

Judith was able to create a more stable life for herself after she committed herself to maintaining her sobriety, and focused on gratitude and helping others and sharing her love for God with everyone that she encountered. Judith wanted everyone she met to see that even the smallest thing was a “God-thing.” Judith lived the remaining years of her life, even when it was difficult and hard with a true focus of gratitude.

1998 - Judith was connected to Moveable Feast, after she was found trying to get more food out of the dumpster at Giant Foods.

2009 - Judith was recognized and honored as one of 20 HEROs of Moveable Feast for her advocacy on behalf of the agency and people living with HIV/AIDS. Judith willingly shared her story of addiction and living with HIV, being a featured speaker at many Moveable Feast and Johns Hopkins events, including the Ride for the Feast, the 20th anniversary of Moveable feast, and the ABC show SECRET MILLIONAIRE, where she endeared herself to Anne Beiler, the founder of Auntie Ann’s pretzels. Judith willingly participated in video productions, media articles, and media news coverage of Moveable Feast in the hope that others would know the impact of the organization in her life and the lives of other seriously ill people, and thus, support the Mission. In the summer it was common place for Judith's delivery driver , Landon, to bring small Flower bouquets to the staff, arranged by Judith as a thank you to the staff of Moveable Feast. Her lengthy phone messages she would leave at 3 am would make staff smile, laugh and cry... as she thanked us, praised us, asked for a special favor, or lamented that she could not sleep so she called to hear the voice of someone she loved and trusted.

2009 - Judith received a Governors Citation from the from the State of Maryland for her outstanding Volunteer Service to Moveable Feast

Judith had a personalized “movement of love” with her cross stitch gifts - that she made for all the many people that touched her life. These cross stitch gifts are all over the country (in fact all over the world - as she even made sure one was hand delivered to a someone special to her in Malawi) She literally cross-stitched close to a hundred pieces if not more that she gave out.

Judith had a spectacular garden at her apartment - she loved taking care of her beautiful garden and making beautiful arrangements for people in her life. The arrangements were put in recycled plastic coke containers,etc, and each one was a truly a work of art.

Judith loved to care for “her critters” she loved caring for and feeding the birds, squirrels and deer around her apartment complex. She loved her cats who predeceased her - Mimi and Diddo.

Judith was an avid card and letter writer - she remembered everyones birthday - in fact she remembered every detail that was important to a person’s life as she had a true photographic memory.

Judith kept a “Dear Lord” book where she wrote her prayers for herself and others each day and she started her day by either listening or reading Joyce Meyers

Judith was a master of Maryland’s transit system - she was able to get herself from Baltimore County to Baltimore City and so many places in between with ease, even in the harshest of weather. While in transit, Judith shared her unique story with all the bus drivers and passengers and made many friends along the way.

In the past month- Judith was asked what she is most proud of from her remarkable life and she stated the following:

1. All the “angels” that God has put in her life the last 20 years

2. The Governor Citation

3. Being a Moveable Feast Hero

4. Meeting Dr. Jackie at the Associated Black Charities Leadership Program

5. Being a guest speaker at Heath care Training programs for workers - helping them to understand what is it really like to live with HIV/AIDS

6. 20 year relationship with Cindi - her life coach and friend

7. Having a safe and stable place to live

8. Garden and all the arrangements that she made

9. Cross stitch gifts that she made for so many friends

Judith was a dear friend to many and left an indelible mark on so many people that entered her life. Judith taught each person she encountered daily about love, life and God with the very real and authentic way she communicated her story and how God worked in her life. Judith was 100% present with you, the most loyal person you could ever meet, and despite not having much herself, she would give her last dollar to help a friend in need.

Upon hearing about Judith’s death - Dr Joel E. Gallant wrote, “ Judith was a remarkable woman who did more for me than I did for her! I loved her and I will never forget her”