Judith Blair Foster

Judith Blair Foster passed away in Tampa, FL on March 26, 2022, after a brief battle with cancer. She was strong and determined throughout. Judy (Jude to many loved ones) possessed truly enchanting, inspiring grace and beauty, inside and out.

Bright, loving, creative, and witty, Judy was born in Tampa on January 14, 1952. She graduated from Plant High School in Tampa and Ringling School of Art in Sar-asota, followed by a most successful career in graphic design.

Judy was an artist to the core. Her brilliant drawings, graphic designs, and silver jewelry de-signs/silversmithing are a small glimpse into the range of her talent. She was also an extraordinary writer, able to speak the world in a single sentence with wit, gravity or both. Her sweet kindness brought comfort and love; her sometimes-biting wit brought laughter and insight. Her exciting artist’s eye was clear in her fabulous per-sonal style and flair.

But Judy’s greatest talent was generosity of spirit. She was a wonderful daughter and sister, treasuring and honoring her mother and father throughout their lives. Af-ter her father’s passing, Judy dedicated nearly all her time and energy to her mother’s care in her mother’s last years of declining health.

And Judy was the best possible friend. She collected adoring, steadfast friends throughout her life...friends since childhood, from art school, her workplaces, friends everywhere. She is irreplaceable and missed beyond words by all. While Judy leaves unfillable holes in so many hearts, she also leaves innumerable memories of the greatest fun and laughter, along with some of life’s tears. Judy bestowed the best of herself on those she loved. She was incomparable. The sun shines a bit less brightly without her. Shakespeare wrote “I am wealthy in my friends.” In that case, every friend of Judy’s is a bil-lionaire.

A lover since childhood of all living creatures, Judy was especially smitten with birds, particularly exotic birds. She raised many exotic birds of all sizes throughout her life, introducing friends to their extraordinary beauty and proving they had an affectionate side. Guests were greeted, before Judy could even answer the door, by her extremely vocal “guard birds”. Their ear-splitting alerts will be missed by the very same visitors who prayed those feathered beauties would please lower their voic-es! Judy’s beloved sun conure, Itsy Bits, was with her until the end.

Judy was predeceased by her parents, Val and Edith Foster, and her partner of 20 years, Michael Sanford. She is survived by her sister, Joan Foster (Richard) Park, her nephew Matthew (Kelly) Shrader and her grandniece Emily Shrader, as well as her lifetime of devoted friends.

A private graveside service will be held at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Judy’s memory to:

Birds of Paradise Sanctuary and Rescue Inc at bird-sofparadise.org (Adopted gorgeous macaw, Tommy)

or Birds in Helping Hands at birdsinhelpinghands.org.

Note: If donating to Birds in Helping Hands by charge card, please go back to their home page to the “Contact Us” “Message” space, then state your donation was in memory of Judy Foster and provide your name and ad-dress. If donating by PayPal, a message space is pro-vided. (Adopted beloved birds, Buddy and Itsy Bits.)