Judith R Heggie

Judy Heggie was an adventurous, inquisitive, fun-loving, bright and spirited woman of the world who devoted much of her life to health care as a critical care nurse, educator and administrator. She traveled the world with friends and pursued education, attaining degrees from St Lawrence, the Columbia School of Nursing, Ohio State University (Master’s degree in Nursing Education) and the University of San Diego (PhD in Nursing Science). She raised four children and welcomed six grandchildren and three great-granddaughters.

Judy was born in Passaic, New Jersey on October 12, 1932, the eldest daughter of Edward and Adele (Lucas) Rohrbach. Her only sibling, Gretchen, was born two years later. They grew up in Ridgewood where they attended school and developed a lifelong love affair with the beach and ocean, spending summers at the Jersey shore and family vacations at the Metedeconk River. Judy loved swimming, crabbing, gatherings with friends and was a baton twirler for the school band and cheer team. After graduating Ridgewood High School, she went to college at St Lawrence and then nursing school at Columbia. At a party she had organized for her sorority (Kappa Kappa Gamma), she met a handsome saxophonist from Long Island named John Heggie, who was studying to become a doctor. Judy and John married in 1955.

The couple welcomed daughter Joanne in 1957 while John was stationed in Japan as a US Army doctor. Two years later, daughter Jill was born in New York. A move to Florida followed, where son Jake was born in 1961. Then the family moved to Redondo Beach, CA, where son Jason was born in 1965. The family finally moved to Bexley, OH where the children attended local schools. In 1972, Judy’s husband took his own life, having suffered from clinical depression. At 39 years old, Judy suddenly had four children to raise on her own. Wanting to focus on future possibilities for her family and herself, she went to work as a nurse at Grant Hospital and pursued her Master’s Degree at OSU. In 1977, she moved with Jason and Jake to California and began a more than 30-year career working for the Veteran’s Administration, first in Martinez and then in La Jolla. That same year, Jill gave birth to daughter Natika.

Judy’s VA career included working in the emergency room, critical care unit, then in education and finally as an administrator. She retired in 1998 and resumed her passions for traveling, reading, hiking, biking and fun times with friends and family. After 32 years living and boogie boarding in San Diego, she decided to move to San Francisco just before her 80th birthday. She found a great new home and community at the Gateway Apartments, making dozens of new friends through walking and book groups, theater and music events. Most notable were the “Heggettes” Joan, Sharon and Helen. They traveled together and enjoyed countless happy hours, gatherings, celebrations, long walks and talks. Judy’s philosophy was to stay curious and live, live, live. She passed away after a brief illness in San Francisco on March 8, 2023.

Judy Heggie is survived by children Jill, Jake (husband Curt Branom) and Jason (wife Mia). Daughter Joanne passed away suddenly in 2003. Her grandchildren include Natika Smith (husband Tyler), John Trolinger (wife Anna), Edward Heggie (wife Marina), Brian Heggie, Wesley Heggie and Grayson Branom Sorci; great granddaughters Chloe Smith, Carly Smith and Olivia Trolinger. She also has many beloved nieces, nephews and extended family across the country.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Judy’s honor to the Columbia School of Nursing, Coming Home Hospice in San Francisco, or Pathways Home Health & Hospice.