Berndt, Judith A. Judy Berndt of Mequon WI passed away on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. Judy was born in 1935 in New York City. She was preceded in death by her parents, A.J. and Laila Beiring, and by her only sister, Jaye Catherine Ocko of Manchester MA. She is survived by her husband Dick, their daughters Carol, (Cherie); Lisa (Mark) the parents of Ivan and Laila Rivera; and Jennifer, mother of Alexander. She is further survived by her nephew Bruce C. Ocko and his children Whitney, Taylor and Carter and by nephew Robert Ocko (Julie) and their daughters Isabelle and Michaela. Also survived by her brother-in-law Frederick Berndt, and her stepmother Dolly Beiring. She also leaves behind many dear cousins and close friends.

Judy graduated from Newton High School, Newton, MA and came to Madison to attend the University of Wisconsin, where she earned her BS degree in English Literature. There she met her future husband, Richard Berndt. They were married in Madison in 1957, and celebrated their 53^rd wedding anniversary last summer at their beloved family cottage at Lake Gogebic in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Judy had a lengthy and deep commitment to the arts, serving on the UPAF Board for 7 years, and co-chairing the 1975 UPAF Annual Campaign. She served on the Milwaukee Symphony Board of Directors for nearly 17 years, co-chairing the Education Committee, and co-chairing the Symphony Annual Campaigns from 1985-1987. She served on the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Board for 6 years including 2 as its president, and on the Skylight Theater Board for 5 years. She served as President of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra League from 1983-1985. In 1979 Judy received an award from the Metropolitan Civic Alliance for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts.

As a charter member of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, she sang with that group for 30 years, performing with the Chorus twice at Carnegie Hall and three times at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, twice under James Levine. She was a longtime member of the Woman’s Club of Wisconsin.

Because Dick was such an enthusiastic flyer, commuting to the family cottage in Michigan in his Cessna, Judy earned her pilot’s license in 1982. They have been co-pilots throughout their long and happy marriage.

A Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 2:00 PM at ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH; 914 East Knapp Street, Milwaukee 53202. The service will be followed by a reception at church. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations to the St. Paul’s Music Endowment Fund or to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra would help continue the beautiful music which was always so much a part of Judy’s life.