Judy Ann (Richardson) Newman

  West Bath -  Judy Newman of West Bath, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2022, at Midcoast Hospital in Brunswick.

   She was born on October 20, 1953, in Lubec, to parents Donald Paul Richardson and Eleanor Mae (Archer) Richardson.  She graduated from Lubec High School in 1972 and from the University of Maine at Orono in 1986, majoring in Secondary Education.

   Judy and her husband, Dana Newman, were married in 1972.  They would have celebrated their 50th anniversary September 2nd of this year.

   After living in Lubec for two years, Judy and her family moved to Bucksport.  While raising her family, Judy began taking classes at Bangor Community College in 1979.  She achieved her goal of becoming a secondary school teacher upon graduation from the University of Maine at Orono in 1986. 

   Judy began her teaching career at Bucksport High School in 1987.  She taught U.S. history, psychology, English and humanities.  Her co-curricular activities included Mock Trial and co/Student Council advisor with her husband, Dana, a math teacher at Bucksport High School.  She became the social studies department head in 2002.

   Judy took a medical retirement from teaching in 2008 after being diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.  Despite frequent trips to Dana Farber in Boston, Judy did all she could to enjoy life to the fullest. In 2008 she and her husband moved to southern Maine to be closer to their grandchildren. Her happy, upbeat personality brightened the day of those around her.  These qualities made her a perfect Parrothead, so Jude & Dana joined the Jimmy Buffett loving, Parrothead Club of Maine in 2008.  She assisted club members in Relay for Life and Habitat for Humanity projects, and hosted Christmas parties to benefit the Good Shepherd Food Bank.  Judy and her husband traveled throughout the Caribbean and the Florida Keys.

   Her determination to live life to the fullest led her to a stem cell transplant in 2013. Unfortunately, the transplant led to graft vs. host disease.  GVHD caused serious physical challenges, including thickened skin issues, internal problems, and blindness.  Five clinical trials and numerous other treatments were unsuccessful and limited her to a wheelchair.

    Judy will be forever loved and missed by those who survive her, her husband Dana of West Bath; daughter Melanie Moll, son-in-law Brad Moll, and grandchildren Emma and Ben Moll of Yarmouth; son Michael Newman of Hancock; mother, Eleanor Richardson of Machias; sister Terry and brother-in-law James Murphy of Lubec; brother Ralph and sister-in law Evelyn Richardson of Idaho; brother David and sister-in-law Chrissie Richardson of Dedham; brother Mark and sister-in-law Chris Richardson of Berlin, Germany; brother Steven and Barb Richardson of Machias.  In addition, Uncle Ralph and Aunt Eva, and special friends Jean Mercer and Holly Bertrand and many nieces and nephews.

    We will miss Judy’s kindness, compassion, quick smile, and a genuine concern for others.

    As a special note, she wants to thank her nurses at New England Cancer Center in Topsham, especially Karen and Anna, nurse practitioner Theresa Sirois, and oncologist David Benton.

To share your thoughts and condolences with the family, please visit www.desmondfuneralhomes.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Judy Ann (Richardson) Newman, please visit our floral store.