(ATTN: I have just found Judy's best-friend, TONI CURRAN BAGNOD and her info will be intersperced and quoted here. Scroll down if you wish. Thanks, Toni!)
S.H.Y.: I knew Judy some but I wasn't in her group of good friends so maybe someone of them will come across and fill in this tribute. Judy was one of the prettiest girls in class with the best peaches and cream complexion, bar none. She was born too late but would have been a perfect southern belle with her blushing shyness, a dress off the shoulders, and fluttering a fan with a few hundred beau assembled around her. "We had two gym classes together and in one on a rainy day, Mrs. Rombach let us have a sock hop and Judy and I were partners. We were cracking up trying to decide how to be the man/lead but most of the songs were fast. She was light on her feet. Blast! "Judy's yearbook entry is as simple as she was (no ego): "GAA, Ping Pong Manager, Sodality. Likes: August 15, 1920 Dislikes: owls." "Judy always had a pleasant expression and she was welcoming to everyone. Too bad but Winnie knew her better than I. "I, Suzie, lost track of her after graduation but at the '90 reunion there was Judy, a changed person, sad and crying throughout the reunion. Her husband, Laverne Toepher, had just up and left her and wouldn't give her any money and took her car and wanted the house, etc. I couldn't believe this happened to the always-cheerful Judy Kelly but when I heard the name of her husband, I couldn't believe THAT either! I went to St. Anselm's in the 6th, 7th and 8th Grades with Laverne Toepher, maybe more. Every Sister sat him as far away from her as possible to escape his odious repugnance. In 8th Grade he was in my line of vision, unfortunately. He mumbled, never talked, and Sister Benigna sat him in the last chair in the last row. (Do you think he got a complex from this or was it his first name?) His hair was always greasy with a tried forelock and he would slump in his seat, slouched over, his legs spread out in the aisle. He never did his homework or barely perticipated in class. When it was his turn to read, he could barely pronounce so maybe he had a learning disability. I don't know how he graduated-maybe he didn't. He always wore his collar turned up. So cool, it made me swoon for him! Ha!-He was the bad boy about whom your mother warned you. He didn't change his clothes frequently so how did Judy Kelly wind up with him??! (Toni Curran Bagnod told me he had them call him Vern, not Laverne and that he up and left her for some 21-yr-old. He liked hunting and fishing.) "Winnie sat with her most of that '90 reunion night, trying to comfort her. Judy said Laverne was a firefighter so he must have seen the light somewhere along the line but then switched back, the way he treated her!"-S.H.Y. TONI CURRAN: "I've been trying to think what to put I don't remember her going to the 1996 [sic] reunion. After her divorce which was very ugly she lacked any self confidence, so I went to see her (I usually went up [to Novato from Fremont] about once a year, she never came down to see me as she really didn't have a car that ran very well) I had long talks with her and she regained a little confidence, got a job, she hadn't worked in years. Shortly after this is when she started to get sick, didn't feel well and no energy. We went to two reunions together and were suppose to go to the next (I can't remember which one, old age) when I called to tell her what time I would pick her up she told me she was too sick to go, I think this was the reunion at the school in the cafeteria. I told several people that I really didnt think she would make it to the next, and she didn't. Judy and I went on vacation together in 1962 (We were 20 and it was the first time Judy had ever been out of the Bay Area.) I took her to Disneyland and Las Vegas, I enjoyed Disneyland more with her than the year before when I went with Sharon Ziegler. We had tire problems down by King City and quiet little Judy in her little shapeless dress climbs in a tree and goes to sleep; three Marines in a jeep came by and fixed the tire, two worked on my car while the other was checking Judy out. Judy began to get sick and lost alot of energy. When she got really bad her Mom called me and asked if I would call her and try to cheer her up. I didn't call I went up, they were having a family picnic at some park in Novato I took my dog and went. We took a walk and I found the family , I walked up and asked if anyone was welcome. Judy just screamed and grabbed me. That was the last time I saw her. She died slowly of liver failure but just complained of no energy; she never complained of pain. I'm not good on dates so I can't remember when exactly this was but I know it was shortly after 1993.-TCB
Nobody with your gentle good humor and kindliness deserved such a bad adult life, sweet Judy. It's over. S.H.Y.
I read Susie Helms' comments about Judy and I wish I had been at that reunion to talk with Judy. I did not really know Judy in HS but she did go to Dominican with me. She was so out of her element there but oh my gosh did the boys like her at the mixers. She was way too sweet and wore way too short of skirts and I think most of the college women hated her. She was probably the most popular girl at all the mixers, guys just drooled over her! I wish I could have talked to her when she was sad cause I would have reminded her of just how many guys were in love with her....unfortunately we never get to hear "good stuff" about us that could have made our lives a little better....
I met Judy at our graduation. She was my partner. For four years I never knew she was a classmate. What a mistake. We had one date and I will always remember what a wonderful and enjoyable time I had with a truly sweet girl. Tom
Suzanne Helms (Yanok)
(ATTN: I have just found Judy's best-friend, TONI CURRAN BAGNOD and her info will be intersperced and quoted here. Scroll down if you wish. Thanks, Toni!)S.H.Y.: I knew Judy some but I wasn't in her group of good friends so maybe someone of them will come across and fill in this tribute. Judy was one of the prettiest girls in class with the best peaches and cream complexion, bar none. She was born too late but would have been a perfect southern belle with her blushing shyness, a dress off the shoulders, and fluttering a fan with a few hundred beau assembled around her.
"We had two gym classes together and in one on a rainy day, Mrs. Rombach let us have a sock hop and Judy and I were partners. We were cracking up trying to decide how to be the man/lead but most of the songs were fast. She was light on her feet. Blast!
"Judy's yearbook entry is as simple as she was (no ego): "GAA, Ping Pong Manager, Sodality. Likes: August 15, 1920 Dislikes: owls."
"Judy always had a pleasant expression and she was welcoming to everyone. Too bad but Winnie knew her better than I.
"I, Suzie, lost track of her after graduation but at the '90 reunion there was Judy, a changed person, sad and crying throughout the reunion. Her husband, Laverne Toepher, had just up and left her and wouldn't give her any money and took her car and wanted the house, etc. I couldn't believe this happened to the always-cheerful Judy Kelly but when I heard the name of her husband, I couldn't believe THAT either! I went to St. Anselm's in the 6th, 7th and 8th Grades with Laverne Toepher, maybe more. Every Sister sat him as far away from her as possible to escape his odious repugnance. In 8th Grade he was in my line of vision, unfortunately. He mumbled, never talked, and Sister Benigna sat him in the last chair in the last row. (Do you think he got a complex from this or was it his first name?) His hair was always greasy with a tried forelock and he would slump in his seat, slouched over, his legs spread out in the aisle. He never did his homework or barely perticipated in class. When it was his turn to read, he could barely pronounce so maybe he had a learning disability. I don't know how he graduated-maybe he didn't. He always wore his collar turned up. So cool, it made me swoon for him! Ha!-He was the bad boy about whom your mother warned you. He didn't change his clothes frequently so how did Judy Kelly wind up with him??! (Toni Curran Bagnod told me he had them call him Vern, not Laverne and that he up and left her for some 21-yr-old. He liked hunting and fishing.)
"Winnie sat with her most of that '90 reunion night, trying to comfort her. Judy said Laverne was a firefighter so he must have seen the light somewhere along the line but then switched back, the way he treated her!"-S.H.Y.
TONI CURRAN: "I've been trying to think what to put I don't remember her going to the 1996 [sic] reunion. After her divorce which was very ugly she lacked any self confidence, so I went to see her (I usually went up [to Novato from Fremont] about once a year, she never came down to see me as she really didn't have a car that ran very well) I had long talks with her and she regained a little confidence, got a job, she hadn't worked in years. Shortly after this is when she started to get sick, didn't feel well and no energy. We went to two reunions together and were suppose to go to the next (I can't remember which one, old age) when I called to tell her what time I would pick her up she told me she was too sick to go, I think this was the reunion at the school in the cafeteria. I told several people that I really didnt think she would make it to the next, and she didn't.
Judy and I went on vacation together in 1962 (We were 20 and it was the first time Judy had ever been out of the Bay Area.) I took her to Disneyland and Las Vegas, I enjoyed Disneyland more with her than the year before when I went with Sharon Ziegler.
We had tire problems down by King City and quiet little Judy in her little shapeless dress climbs in a tree and goes to sleep; three Marines in a jeep came by and fixed the tire, two worked on my car while the other was checking Judy out.
Judy began to get sick and lost alot of energy.
When she got really bad her Mom called me and asked if I would call her and try to cheer her up. I didn't call I went up, they were having a family picnic at some park in Novato I took my dog and went. We took a walk and I found the family , I walked up and asked if anyone was welcome. Judy just screamed and grabbed me. That was the last time I saw her. She died slowly of liver failure but just complained of no energy; she never complained of pain.
I'm not good on dates so I can't remember when exactly this was but I know it was shortly after 1993.-TCB
Nobody with your gentle good humor and kindliness deserved such a bad adult life, sweet Judy. It's over.
S.H.Y.
Barbara Garris (Edwards)
I read Susie Helms' comments about Judy and I wish I had been at that reunion to talk with Judy.I did not really know Judy in HS but she did go to Dominican with me. She was so out of her element there but oh my gosh did the boys like her at the mixers. She was way too sweet and wore way too short of skirts and I think most of the college women hated her. She was probably the most popular girl at all the mixers, guys just drooled over her! I wish I could have talked to her when she was sad cause I would have reminded her of just how many guys were in love with her....unfortunately we never get to hear "good stuff" about us that could have made our lives a little better....
Tom O'Doul
I met Judy at our graduation. She was my partner. For four years I never knew she was a classmate. What a mistake. We had one date and I will always remember what a wonderful and enjoyable time I had with a truly sweet girl.Tom