Judith Shannon

On Monday, April 11, Judith Shannon, 77, died from interstitial lung disease. Her only child, Eric Elnicki, 43, was at her bedside in the Olsen Clinic, The Forest at Duke Retirement Community where she had lived for five years.

Always beautiful and fashionable, red-headed Judith was very proud of her successful career. Born in Omaha NE, she was raised in the Midwest and started her career as a secretary at Ford Motor Company, Dearborn MI in 1962. She went to Washington DC at the invitation of the former president and chancellor of the University of Detroit were she had studied for two years.

Judith was known for her grit and tenacity that helped promote her to management positions—a rarity for women at the time–after earning a BA in Business Administration from American University. She delighted in telling the story about being given a manager’s $40,000 signing authority; several senior managers objected.

“Why?” asked her mentor. “Well…well…she’s a woman…and…and she might buy a fur coat!” Needless to say, she didn’t.

Judith went on to become Manager of Shareholder Relations and Director of Public Relations at Comsat; Vice President of Public Affairs at Satellite Television Corporation; Assistant Vice President for Public and Governmental Affairs at Sprint; Director of Global Brand and Marketing Communication at Global One; and Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Telcordia Technologies.

In retirement, Judith was thrilled to become a grandmother after Emma was born to Eric and his wife Susan. Family and friends grieved when Emma died at 13 months.

When Abby, now seven, was born, Judith celebrated once again being an adoring grandmother.

Besides family and career, Judith had several passions: cooking, travel, service to others, and dogs. She loved to entertain with elegant dinner menus but, she also always ways kept a stock of homemade soup in the freezer.

Aside from travels to far-flung places like China or Lapland, Judith worked in Brussels for three years where she diligently studied French; after retiring, she was a Peace Corps Volunteer teaching at Donetsk National University, Ukraine, where she studied equally hard to learn Russian.

Judith was a generous person not only with things but with her time, talents, and energy. When she settled in West Chester PA after her Peace Corps stint, she chaired the City Planning Commission for four years, co-founded a women’s homeless shelter, was a Historic Walking Tour Leader, and Hospice Pet Therapy Volunteer, as well as participated in many activities with her church.

At The Forest, Judith continued her love of singing with The Forest Singers and helped chair a Diversity Committee to sharpen awareness of all people’s common humanity.

Judith loved dogs. Her first dog, Nicki, an enthusiastic German shepherd, moved on after chewing up the kitchen drywall. Thereafter, Judith had well-trained standard poodles. Her last dog, Lizzy, was well-known at The Forest for her gentle, friendly, and majestic stance waiting outside the dining room while Judith had her meals. When Lizzy died this winter, Judith received over 30 sympathy cards from fellow residents who also missed Lizzy waiting outside the dining room.

A memorial service will be held later this year at The Forest to celebrate Judith’s life. Meanwhile, those who wish may contribute in her honor to the Duke Hospice at https://www.dukehealth.org/treatments/home-care-and-hospice/giving .