Gail Judith Nelson

Judith Nelson, 74, of Manahawkin, New Jersey, passed away August 20, 2014, at home, after a long arduous battle with cancer and COPD. Born in Teaneck, NJ in 1939, Judy resided in Palisades Park, NJ during her youth. She graduated from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) in 1961 with a BA in Health and Physical Education (H/PE) and received her MA degree in H/PE from the same institution in 1970. She later earned all the course work required towards her doctorate from Temple University and the University of Maryland. Judy worked for Burlington County College (BCC) for 29 years. She retired from BCC with the rank of Associate Professor in 1999. During her years at BCC she taught courses in health, death and dying, stress management, human sexuality and a variety of physical education activities such as modern dance, badminton and volleyball. She also served as the women’s field hockey coach for several years. Judy was selected by the student body as BCC’s first female Teacher of the Year in 1986. As an active member of the BCC Faculty Association, Judy served as vice-president and chair of the negotiating committee. She led the Organization of Faculty Women for almost 10 year and served as its chief litigation officer in a successful sex discrimination class action suit against the College filed with EEOC and the U.S. Department of Justice. In her retirement years, Judy was passionately involved in politics and genealogy. She was also a member of many organizations that were very dear to her heart, such as the Nature Conservancy, Greenpeace, Humane Society, Society of Genealogists, and the Alice Paul NOW Chapter, to name a few. Judy loved living on the bay and indulged in various shore activities such as boating and bird watching. Judy lost her home during hurricane Sandy, but worked tirelessly during her illness to get her home rebuilt so she could enjoy it in the final stage of her life. She moved into her new home a week before she passed away. The family is deeply grateful for the care provided by Judy's doctors who worked so faithfully to extend her life and for the outstanding care provided in the last week of her life by Home Instead Senior Care and the Hospice aides, nurses, and associates. Judy was predeceased by her parents, Fleetwood Diss and Grace Diss Fortanas, her step-father Albert Fortanas, and son Eric Andrew Nelson. She is survived by two sons and their wives, Douglas (Diane) of Lumberton, NJ and Craig (Patricia) of Manahawkin, NJ, and four beloved grandchildren, Derrick, Alec, Danielle, and Eric. A Memorial Service will be held for Judy at Perinchief Chapels in Mount Holly, NJ, on Saturday, October 4 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either the Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org or the Humane Society, www.humanesociety.org