Judith Klein Burns

Judy Burns died peacefully on December 27th at Kendal after a ten-month long battle with cancer. Born on July 30th, 1942, in Oshkosh Wisconsin, to Walter and Francis Klein, Judy is survived by her husband of 51 years, Joe Burns, her children, Caitlin and Patrick, and her brother, William (Bill) Klein.

Judy and her family moved frequently throughout the Midwest when she was young, finally settling in Texas. Her father was a college teacher and football coach and her mother, a practicing and teaching nurse. Judy graduated magna cum laude from Commerce High School in East Texas and was awarded a scholarship at the University of Washington in St. Louis. She received her bachelor’s degree in '64 and went on to complete an MFA at Cornell. In 1965, Judy met Joe Burns, a doctoral student in Space Mechanics. After graduate school, the newly married couple traveled extensively, including a long stay in Moscow and a lengthy camping excursion in Yosemite National Park. When they returned to Ithaca, Judy took a position in the office of publications, where she would spend the next 25 years designing marketing material for the university. Joe accepted a professorship in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and Astronomy. Judy and Joe collaborated on a variety of professional projects. Most notable was an exhibit on Saturn, which was showcased at the Johnson Art Museum at Cornell, the Museum of Natural History in New York City, and the Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. The couple spent sabbatical leaves in Prague, Paris, Cambridge,England, Tucson AZ, Berkeley CA, Vancouver BC, and Santa Barbara CA.

Judy enjoyed travel, developed a deep appreciation for different cultures, and most importantly, loved being with Joe. In 1978, Judy and Joe purchased their most prized possession, a house on Cayuga Lake where they lived until 2016 before moving to Kendal. In her spare time, Judy could be found sketching, rowing in her shell, gardening, reading, cooking, and spending time with her friends at the lake. Judy was also unwavering in her commitment to her children, combining high expectations with love without reservation. Her children adored her.

A celebration of Judy's extraordinary life will take place at Kendal on January 11th, 2019 at 1:00pm. Donations can be made to the Cancer Resource Center of Ithaca.