Judith Isabel (Anderson) Brindley

Brindley, Judith Isabel Anderson

October 19, 1942 - June 11, 2020

Our dearly loved Judy, a true Minnesotan, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on June 11, 2020 at the age of 77. She was a loving, compassionate, brilliant, intuitive, strong, resilient, and fun person. She shared her passions for language, literature, history, music, the arts, and community with everyone she met. She traveled to many of America’s beautiful National Parks, but always had a special place in her heart for Minnesota’s seasons, woods, and wildlife.

Judy attended Our Lady of Grace Catholic School and graduated in 1960 from Academy of Holy Angels as valedictorian. She received her B.A. in French from Rosary College (now Dominican University) in 1964, and her M.A. in French/Education from Johns Hopkins University in 1965. 

A life-long teacher, Judy taught high school French and Spanish at Osseo Senior High and St. Louis Park High School, among others. Later in her career, she enjoyed more than a decade at Sylvan Learning Center where she worked to empower struggling students, many from disadvantaged communities. One of her most rewarding experiences was being part of Sylvan in the Schools at Four Winds Elementary School in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis.

An athlete and avid sports fan, Judy loved watching football and tennis, sailing on Gull Lake and Lake Minnetonka, and was a local water-skiing legend. She was the first woman to master the water ski jump on Gull Lake, and could do a dock start into her fifties. Many hours were spent correcting her students’ papers in front of football games and tennis matches. A huge Roger Federer fan, she was known to record and rewatch Wimbledon championships—her own version of ESPN Classic. She played basketball in high school when women were only allowed a half court and was ecstatic to support her daughter Chris’s basketball career on the full court years later. She was always a strong supporter of her family’s sports interests.

Music and the arts were critically important to Judy. As a teacher and a parent, she incorporated these passions into her instruction, knowing that they support development and provide solace and joy. She and Eric frequently attended performances of the Minnesota Opera, the SPCO, and the Minnesota Orchestra.

Judy was also an historian. Carrying on her father’s legacy, she was on the board of the associates of the James Ford Bell Library at the University of Minnesota, supporting the collection of rare books, maps and manuscripts. She was inspired by the writings and lives of Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson, and fostered that interest in her children and grandchildren. And she was known as the family historian, often telling stories of growing up in Minnesota in an oral tradition that rivaled The Prairie Home Companion in entertainment value and warmed the hearts of everyone within earshot. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Richard Anderson, Sr. and LaJean Anderson, and she is survived by her husband of 29 years, Eric; daughters Kate Fennema, Betsy Fennema Bance (Dave), Chris Fennema Notestine (Randy); grandchildren Tim Notestine and Anna Bance; her siblings Jim Anderson (Ginger), Sally Dahlquist (Eric), Jean Lavelle (John), and Tom Anderson, Jr. (Chris); and so many other family and friends. 

We will hold a Celebration of Life in the future when our world will be safer for travel and hugs, so that we can have the big party she would love and share our stories and love for her. She will be there in spirit. Please send your contact information to e.brindley@mchsi.com if you would like to be informed of future plans. 

Her love lives on through us. Enjoy the moments and love each other. 

In her memory, we ask that you consider donations to any of these places that would mean so much to her:  

James Ford Bell Library
The American Heart Association 
Black Lives Matter 
St. Joseph’s Indian School
Minnesota Opera
Minnesota Orchestra

Links:

James Ford Bell Library
https://www.lib.umn.edu/bell/gift
The American Heart Association https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=donatenow_legacy&s_src=pmxsem19_legacy&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoaz3BRDnARIsAF1RfLcRc48nhycmCUE--F9wAImzgfU6DoAolmYlSfxE52CM5IR2ElDX6cwaAgKdEALw_wcB
Black Lives Matter
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019
St. Joseph’s Indian School
https://give.stjo.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2840&mfc_pref=T&2840.donation=form1
Minnesota Opera

                 https://my.mnopera.org/donate/contribute1

Minnesota Orchestra

                 https://minnesotaorchestra.org/support/individual-giving

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