Judith Elaine Reich

Judy Reich was a person who was continually strengthened by helping and enriching the lives of others in any way she could. In fact, I think that you could easily say that it gave her own life greater purpose. Jude was very outgoing, and she never met a stranger. She was energized by other people and social and community activities of all kinds. Jude was the kind of person who always wanted the complete facts on any topic, yet she also exercised a high degree of common sense in promptly and decisively dealing with whatever problem or issue came her way. She was also someone who very much lived in the present, while also looking very much towards tomorrow.

She made her decisions based on her feelings, while always being sensitive to the needs and feelings of others. Jude was definitely a multi-tasker, and she seemed to thrive on having a number of projects and activities in the fire at the same time. It seemed to make her feel more alive, while making her feel that she was always living life to the fullest possible. She was always eager to just jump into action and get things done, no matter what the undertaking.

Judy was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 18, 1959 to parents Arlene and Harold Reich. She attended Ray Town South High School in Kansas City. She was a flautist, active in both band and orchestra, and she also served as a drum major during her high school years. She graduated high school in 1977.

She lived in Kansas City throughout her earlier years until her freshman year of college, when she attended Phillips College in Oklahoma for one year. She then finished her college career at Central Missouri State University in Columbia, MO, earning a Bachelor of Communications degree in 1980.

Judy was diagnosed at age 7 with juvenile diabetes, otherwise known as Type 1 Diabetes, T1D, or insulin dependent diabetes. She successfully managed her diabetes for almost 51 years until her death. She received The Joslin Medal in 2017, recognized as a T1D who had successfully lived with and managed her diabetes for 50 years.

Some of Judy’s closest friends during her college and early adult years were Mary and Tom Holland, who remained very close friends with Judy for many years until her death. Among her closest friends in later life included Lisa Poe Howfield and Ian Howfield, Laurie and John Hartig, Eileen and Eric Horn, Robin Camacho, Mike and Chris Cutler, and many other members of the broadcast and non-profit community.

Career

Judy began her television broadcast career at KMIZ-TV in Columbia, MO in 1980, where she worked as a reporter, on-air talent and in programming for about 7 years. In September of 1988, she was recruited to come to Las Vegas to become Program Director for KVBC TV Channel

3, the NBC Affiliate. During her 18 years with KVBC which later became KSNV, Judy served as both Program Director and Community Affairs Director. In those capacities, Judy was the key contact for such syndicated programs as Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, Dr. Phil, and other shows. Judy was also instrumental in dramatically expanding the station’s community affairs activities with the Clark County School District’s Back to School Fair as well as many other important community activities, including the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

After retiring from Channel 3 after 18 years of service in April, 2006, Judy was involved with several organizations on a contract basis over the next 10 – 12 years, including Vegas PBS and The Nevada Broadcasters Association.

The Smith Center

Judy, who was also a Certified Audio Describer, served The Smith Center in audio description for those with vision challenges, as well as working at TSC part-time in the front house. She provided audio description services for many of TSC’s Broadway Shows, which brought Judy great joy.

Charitable Organizations

Judy was a tireless volunteer and Board Member for a variety of non-profits and charitable organizations throughout Southern Nevada, including Spread the Word Nevada and a long list of other organizations where she served going back over 25 years. There are simply too many to list here.

Travel

Gary and Judy were blessed to have been able to travel extensively to Broadway and London, where Judy’s great love was enjoying Broadway Plays and Musicals. We also enjoyed many other trips, which included Hawaii, France, The Cayman Islands, Mexico, The Don Cesar in St. Petersburg, FL and many other trips in the U.S. Finally, each year for many years, Judy would make 1 or 2 seasonal visits to The Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City, Utah, an annual activity that gave her the greatest joy. The loved the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and went up every year for at least 26 years or more.

Pets – The Toby Cat

Judy and Gary were blessed to have adopted Toby Cat, a 2 year old or so Maine Cun cat, who became a part of the family back in 2003 through The Humane Society. Toby was a very special member of the family, who lived just a few days longer than Judy. Judy simply adored The Toby Cat. Toby, who had been diagnosed with diabetes himself in late 2017 at age 16, left us just 3 days after Judy’s passing on February 7, 2018.

Judy’s Death

Judy suffered a severe heart attack on Thursday, February 1, 2018. After 6 days in the Cardiac Care Unit and despite everything that the highly skilled doctors and nurses at Summerlin Hospital did to save her, she passed away shortly after 12 noon on Wednesday, February 7, 2018. It appears that complications from diabetes also played a role in Judy’s passing.

Cremation and Memorial Services

A Memorial – Life Celebration Service will be held for Judy on Friday, February 23, 2018 at 1:00 PM at Palm Mortuary, 7400 West Cheyenne Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89129. The body will be cremated at Judy’s request.

Survivors

Survivors include Judy’s 93 year-old Mom, Arlene; Gary, her husband of 16 years, and two cousins, Ed and Tracey.