Obituary for Judith Ann Curtis
Judy was my older sister. My beautiful, brilliant, older sister. Following her through school was always daunting. “So you’re Judith Millington’s sister. Well, we’ll be expecting a lot of you!” Coming out of high school, Judy won so many scholarships that she had to give some of them back. At University of Toronto, she found a talent for acting, playing Joan of Arc - in French, of course. Meanwhile, a romance was brewing with the professor who directed her, and the day after graduating at Hart House, she married Professor Alexander Ross Curtis at Hart House. Judy and Ross went on to share 56 years together, first in Toronto, then, from 2004, in their adopted Halifax.
Judy also pursued a career in academic research and teaching French at U of T. They enjoyed travelling and theatre and were superb hosts. Judy was an excellent cook, set a beautiful table and decorated and dressed for every holiday. You were thrilled to be on the guest list. My partner, Jack Schoon, and I enjoyed much good food, wine, conversation and laughter in their home and, although Ross was deeply missed after his death in 2020, Judy continued to dazzle us.
In retirement, Judy developed an interest in vintage and antique dolls and her interest in the history of fashion led to the creation of simply stunning costumes for her girls and ladies. She enjoyed her membership in the Halifax doll club and made some great new friendships to add to her cluster of special longtime friends.
Judy was a prolific reader, could not go to sleep without reading and was only somewhat frustrated in this passion by the font size in many books, grumbling about publishers’ cheapness in cutting back on paper. She enjoyed photography and was an avid gardener, especially dedicated to roses.
And cats. There were always beloved cats who lived long, indulged lives including Nim, Merlin, Hermione, and Percy who, at 19+, is now living the life in Prospect Bay with a most loving caregiver.
Recently she told me that throughout her life she had escaped boredom by “taking on things that make me uncomfortable, or scare me half to death, just to prove I can. Quite unnecessarily.”
Judy and I lost our wonderful parents, Harry Millington in 1993 and Mildred Mary McKinlay Millington in 2000, and our dear baby sister Kathleen Fay (“Kay Fay”) in 2008. And, of course, Ross in 2020. So it’s left to me and Jack to carry the many happy family memories of Judy. And to thank all of those who have helped us in countless ways since her diagnosis in May. There have been so many little miracles and so many kind people that it is impossible to name you all but please know that everything made an enormous difference to Judy and to me. My heart is filled with gratitude. ~ Linda Loth
One of Judy’s very special friends wrote the following:
“She was at first my boss, in title if nothing else, and she spoiled me forever in terms of my academic life, because she was my first department head, and as a new, young lecturer I did not realize at the time what a wonderfully positive and nurturing leader she was.
She was a passionate academic and an equally dedicated teacher, which is a rare phenomenon in academia. She has nurtured me in ways that few others have, and it is largely her encouragement and enthusiasm that have given me the courage and confidence to paint and to write. She has been a constant voice of sweetness and sensibility, mixed in with a delicious sense of humour and a dash of mysticism.
But what stands out above all is her kindness and compassion to all, especially to animals. She truly cared about people, creatures, and this world we inhabit. She poured her eye for detail into the intricate costumes and dioramas, names and stories that she created for her dolls. She was beautiful. Inside and out.
I can't help but continue to use the present tense, because her presence remains so very alive, and I will continue to draw upon it as inspiration and support and gratitude even though her physical self is gone. She has always been transcendent, more of an angel than a human, so this new state of being is in fact not so far removed from the old, embodied one.”
Judy also pursued a career in academic research and teaching French at U of T. They enjoyed travelling and theatre and were superb hosts. Judy was an excellent cook, set a beautiful table and decorated and dressed for every holiday. You were thrilled to be on the guest list. My partner, Jack Schoon, and I enjoyed much good food, wine, conversation and laughter in their home and, although Ross was deeply missed after his death in 2020, Judy continued to dazzle us.
In retirement, Judy developed an interest in vintage and antique dolls and her interest in the history of fashion led to the creation of simply stunning costumes for her girls and ladies. She enjoyed her membership in the Halifax doll club and made some great new friendships to add to her cluster of special longtime friends.
Judy was a prolific reader, could not go to sleep without reading and was only somewhat frustrated in this passion by the font size in many books, grumbling about publishers’ cheapness in cutting back on paper. She enjoyed photography and was an avid gardener, especially dedicated to roses.
And cats. There were always beloved cats who lived long, indulged lives including Nim, Merlin, Hermione, and Percy who, at 19+, is now living the life in Prospect Bay with a most loving caregiver.
Recently she told me that throughout her life she had escaped boredom by “taking on things that make me uncomfortable, or scare me half to death, just to prove I can. Quite unnecessarily.”
Judy and I lost our wonderful parents, Harry Millington in 1993 and Mildred Mary McKinlay Millington in 2000, and our dear baby sister Kathleen Fay (“Kay Fay”) in 2008. And, of course, Ross in 2020. So it’s left to me and Jack to carry the many happy family memories of Judy. And to thank all of those who have helped us in countless ways since her diagnosis in May. There have been so many little miracles and so many kind people that it is impossible to name you all but please know that everything made an enormous difference to Judy and to me. My heart is filled with gratitude. ~ Linda Loth
One of Judy’s very special friends wrote the following:
“She was at first my boss, in title if nothing else, and she spoiled me forever in terms of my academic life, because she was my first department head, and as a new, young lecturer I did not realize at the time what a wonderfully positive and nurturing leader she was.
She was a passionate academic and an equally dedicated teacher, which is a rare phenomenon in academia. She has nurtured me in ways that few others have, and it is largely her encouragement and enthusiasm that have given me the courage and confidence to paint and to write. She has been a constant voice of sweetness and sensibility, mixed in with a delicious sense of humour and a dash of mysticism.
But what stands out above all is her kindness and compassion to all, especially to animals. She truly cared about people, creatures, and this world we inhabit. She poured her eye for detail into the intricate costumes and dioramas, names and stories that she created for her dolls. She was beautiful. Inside and out.
I can't help but continue to use the present tense, because her presence remains so very alive, and I will continue to draw upon it as inspiration and support and gratitude even though her physical self is gone. She has always been transcendent, more of an angel than a human, so this new state of being is in fact not so far removed from the old, embodied one.”