Judith W. Tuttle died Monday morning, February 13, 2012, following emergency surgery at Reading Hospital. She would have celebrated her 86th birthday on Saturday, February 18.
Judy, as she was called, was born at home in Eastport, Long Island, NY in 1926, the fifth of seven children of Daniel Dudley and Edith Victoria (Dixon) Warner. Following graduation from the local schools, Judy worked as a secretary and then attended Wesley College, Dover, DE. During World War II she worked at the Westhampton Air Base, and then moved to Ithaca and became secretary to a psychiatrist at Cornell University.
Meanwhile, her hometown love, Lloyd Tuttle, was attending Yale University, and, following his graduation in 1951, Judy and Lloyd were married. Three years were spent at St. Bernards School in New Jersey, and then came the fortuitous call in 1954 to The Hill School, Pottstown, with Lloyd to be Chair of the Music Department, and master at the console of the beautiful chapel pipe organ.
For 35 years the Tuttles were very much a part of the academic, social, and athletic scene at The Hill, enjoying their life and making many friends. Judy was a great partner in Lloyd’s musical endeavors, both being popular with the students and colleagues. She was a welcome chaperone when the Hilltones, an informal singing group, made their annual trips within and outside the U.S., performing for enthusiastic audiences. The Tuttles also enjoyed their own travels overseas.
The cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee was their little bit of paradise to which they came every summer. They loved sharing it and Judy had already “booked” guests for the 2012 season.
With Lloyd retiring from The Hill in 1989, Judy left her job as salesperson for the Pottstown Chamber of Commerce and as an assistant in The Hill school library, and they moved to Flying Hills, Reading, Pa. They had a few short trips, and filled some of their ti
me with volunteer work at the Reading Rehab Hospital, Habitat for Humanity and Meals-on-Wheels.
When Lloyd died of Parkinson’s disease in 1997, Judy began volunteer work in earnest: preparing food and gifts for distribution by the Salvation Army during Thanksgiving and Christmas; wrapping Christmas gifts; working at the Community Library; nine years volunteering as an assistant in an ESL program; transporting people to doctor appointments; and knitting baby caps for Reading Hospital. She would also help her sisters with their Christmas gift-wrapping! In the
Reading Eagle’s “Person of the Week” column in 2009 Judy recommended volunteering: “keeps you active, and with people, and keeps you from getting lonely.”
Judy was always cheerful and full of life, attending concerts, taking trips, entertaining at supper, lunching out, visiting and calling friends, boating, picnicking, kayaking, blueberry picking, reading and exercising regularly at the gym. She skied at Vail on her 80th birthday, and only gave up that sport at age 83. Her extended family was always happy to be in her company!
Judith leaves her son, Warner Blake Tuttle and his wife, Melissa of Danbury N.H.; daughter, Tracy Judith Tuttle of Laconia N.H.; and sisters Joyce Kelley of Eastport N.Y. and Justine Wells of Riverhead N.Y.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 24 in Alumni Chapel on The Hill School campus in Pottstown, Pa.
Donations in Judith’s name may be made to The Hill School’s Tuttle Vocal Music Scholarship Fund established in 1998 in Lloyd B. Tuttle’s name. The scholarship is awarded annually to a sixth form (senior) vocalist. Gifts may be sent to the Office of Advancement, c/o Mr. Christian Sockel, The Hill School, 717 E. High St., Pottstown, PA 19464.