Judith Keisman

Judith Keisman (neé Tomashoff) died at her home in Manhattan on September 30, 2021, just before her 92nd birthday. She was the beloved mom of Jeremy (Martiza), Maud, Maggie, and her cherished Yorkies Fanny and Alexander. Much-loved grandma to Samantha (JM), Olivia, Molly, George, and Leo (who predeceased her in April), and great-grandmother to Lucas and Lilith. Favorite Aunt Judy to Ivy and Liz, and to Joey and Stephanie who both predeceased her. Adored “baby” sister of the late Seymour (Naomi) and Charlotte, daughter of the late Zelda (nee Pollack) and Simon, cousin to Jessica Gershon, and dear friend to her longtime caregiver Viviana whose love and devotion kept her going.

Judy was a champion of early childhood education whose towering contribution was at the Park Avenue Methodist Day School, where she was the director for close to 40 years. Judy understood that play and creativity were essential elements of early childhood, and she created a world based on those ideas— a haven where children learned through art, song, and games and were encouraged to be silly and curious. Judy sought out the kids who were different; the troublemakers, introverts, kids with special needs. She also created lasting friendships with many of their parents who continued to update her on their kids’ progress throughout the years. Her colleagues admired and loved her. Showing up for births, deaths, holidays, and celebrations, they became more than coworkers—they became an extension of her family.

As a parent, Judy was a much-needed source of stability and security in an often turbulent household. Jeremy loved his mom’s sense of humor and how she didn’t take herself too seriously. He remembers eating liver and onions with his mom—the only two in the family who shared a taste for it. He remembers the lesson she passed down to her children that all food is improved by adding more alcohol. Maggie recalls the way her mom made burned string beans a family classic. She remembers big and inclusive Thanksgiving dinners and her mom’s grand undertaking of refinishing the furniture in their kitchen. Maud remembers her mom’s patience and attention as she taught her multiplication and how to read. She remembers the way her mom advocated for her in school and chaperoned field trips. She remembers being allowed to eat whatever she wanted, which was usually peanut butter sandwiches and sliced Milky Ways from the freezer. She remembers enjoying her mom’s company.

Judy’s bright and youthful energy made her a natural as a grandmother. She played an active role in caring for her first grandchild Samantha who had her own bedroom at her grandmother’s apartment. All of Judy’s grandkids attended Park Avenue Methodist Day School where they got to see their grandmother in her happy place, thriving as a leader and educator. Later in her life, she lived in the same building as Maud and her kids Molly and Leo for whom she often acted as a second parent, going above and beyond as a grandmother. She was there for school pick-ups, camp visiting days, doctors’ appointments, and vacations. Her home was always open to her grandkids for sleepovers or the occasional drop-in with a friend to play with her dogs. Her granddaughter Molly gave her a Father’s Day gift every year.

She also acted as a kind of stand-in grandmother for a few kids in her building who enjoyed spending time at her apartment. The little girl down her hall often came over for playdates and affectionately called her “dodo.” She had fulfilling friendships with adults and children alike. Her ability to connect with a three-year-old just as easily as a fifty-year-old was a testament to her uniquely youthful and affable nature. She was a joyful person who loved being in the presence of other joyful souls. Age, gender, and background didn’t matter; if someone could make her laugh, they had a friend in her. Her sense of humor was equal parts whimsical and alte kocker. She could be witty and deadpan, and she could be silly and absurd. She loved to tease and always appreciated a good joke—no matter how many times you told it to her!

Judy was spunky and spirited and got a kick (pun intended) out of neon sneakers, fruit-themed earrings, canine bat mitzvahs, and playful nursery rhymes. She shared with her children and grandchildren favorites of hers like The Golden Girls, Airplane!, High Anxiety, Shirley Temple movies, and countless musicals. She relished the chance to revisit her favorite picture books with her grandkids and loved to break out into silly songs from her childhood. She had a particularly special bond with her late grandson Leo who never tired of spending his evenings with her, watching TV and eating good food.

She was always thinking of others. To the chagrin and amusement of her family, long after retirement she hoarded cardboard boxes, styrofoam, candy wrappers, and other discarded items, insisting they could be used for art projects at the school. She was the kind of person who liked to give gifts for no reason other than “I saw this and thought of you.”

Judy was one of a kind and won’t be forgotten any time soon. It was a gift to know her and to love her. She would laugh at the length of this obituary, but nothing shorter would do her justice.

Informal celebration of life to be held October 14, 5-7pm at Riverside Memorial Chapel,180 W 76 St. Family and friends are welcome to visit at her home on Sunday, October 17, from 3:00-5:00, and Monday the 18th from 5:30-7:30.